By Jack Guy, CNN<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nApple has released the iPhone pocket, developed in conjunction with fashion designer Issey Miyake.
\nPhoto: Apple\n<\/p>\n
Apple has built its reputation on cutting-edge devices and sleek design, but the company’s latest product is decidedly more low-tech.<\/p>\n
The iPhone Pocket is a knitted strap developed in conjunction with fashion designer Issey Miyake, “born from the idea of creating an additional pocket”, Apple (AAPL) announced.<\/p>\n
Designed to fit any iPhone, the Pocket will be available in a range of colours.<\/p>\n
“Apple and ISSEY MIYAKE share a design approach that celebrates craftsmanship, simplicity, and delight,” Apple industrial design vice president Molly Anderson said.<\/p>\n
“This clever extra pocket exemplifies those ideas and is a natural accompaniment to our products,” she added. “Its recognisable silhouette offers a beautiful new way to carry your iPhone, AirPods and favourite everyday items.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nApple iPhone pocket developed in conjunction with ISSEY MIYAKE.
\nPhoto: Apple\n<\/p>\n
However, eyebrows have been raised by the hefty price tag of what Apple says is a product “inspired by the concept of a piece of cloth”, with the short Pocket to cost US$149.95 (NZ$263) and the long version US$229.95 (NZ$404).<\/p>\n
“$230 for a cut up sock. Apple people will pay anything for anything as long as it’s Apple,” wrote one user on X.<\/p>\n
Others likened the Pocket to the neon-green mankini worn by Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic character, Borat, with another X user posting a picture of the lime-green Pocket alongside an image of Borat in his revealing swimwear.<\/p>\n
“Same vibe,” reads the caption.<\/p>\n
While there was incredulity in some quarters, others had a more nuanced reaction.<\/p>\n
Technology analyst MG Siegler called it “an insanely expensive sock” in his Spyglass newsletter, before exploring the rationale behind the product.<\/p>\n
Siegler said Miyake was one of Steve Jobs’ favourite fashion designers.<\/p>\n
“I think the most important\/interesting aspect of this product is actually the continuing trend of turning the iPhone into a wearable,” he wrote.<\/p>\n
“What started with armbands for runners back in the day is now more of a daily wearable strap for many people, it seems,” added Siegler, citing the launch earlier this year of Apple’s iPhone Crossbody Strap, which retails at US$59 (NZ$103).<\/p>\n
“It’s another accessory and a way to splash some colour upon your outfit,” he said.<\/p>\n
– CNN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Jack Guy, CNN Apple has released the iPhone pocket, developed in conjunction with fashion designer Issey Miyake.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264177,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[4688,4687,2306,50,4689,4686,4684,4685,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-264176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-audio","tag-current-affairs","tag-mobile","tag-news","tag-podcasts","tag-public-radio","tag-radio-new-zealand","tag-rnz","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}