{"id":289624,"date":"2025-11-13T18:53:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T18:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/289624\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T18:53:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T18:53:09","slug":"in-defense-of-apples-230-iphone-sock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/289624\/","title":{"rendered":"In defense of Apple’s $230 iPhone sock"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you thought Apple\u2019s $19 polishing cloth<\/a> was ridiculous, wait until you hear about Apple\u2019s newest product: the limited edition iPhone Pocket<\/a> is a cloth sling for your phone, which retails for $149.95 in the short size, and $229.95 in the long, crossbody size.<\/p>\n

The item itself seems like it could be ragebait. Apple\u2019s website says that it is inspired by the concept of \u201ca piece of cloth,\u201d in which just one piece of fabric comprises the entire design.<\/p>\n

But the iPhone Pocket actually makes a lot of sense in the context of the fashion world \u2014 I\u2019d buy a small, bright yellow sock pocket to tie to my azalea pink Telfar bag if the price did not horrify me. But admittedly, I am probably not in the income bracket that a three-figure sock targets.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Credits:Apple<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re at all familiar with Issey Miyake, the Japanese label behind the iPhone Pocket, then this design should sound familiar. Miyake, the late, revered designer, pioneered the APOC (\u201ca piece of cloth\u201d)<\/a> concept in 1997, which showcased his innovative, tech-forward approach to fashion<\/a> while also reducing waste. <\/p>\n

\u201cFeaturing a ribbed mesh structure with the qualities of the original pleats by Issey Miyake, iPhone Pocket is a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone,\u201d Apple says<\/a>. \u201cWhen stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents and allows you to peek at your iPhone display.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no wonder that Miyake\u2019s quiet genius caught the attention of Steve Jobs, another businessman known for his creativity. The two became friends, and in the 90s, Jobs asked Miyake<\/a> to design a uniform for Apple employees, like those he saw at Sony in Japan. Jobs\u2019 team balked at the prospect of dressing the same every day, but Jobs still liked the idea \u2014 so he and Miyake worked together to create his own personal uniform.<\/p>\n

Yes, Issey Miyake, the label behind Steve Jobs\u2019 iconic black mockneck shirt, is also responsible for the iPhone Pocket. (But Miyake himself was not involved in the design of the Pocket, since he passed away in 2022). While the Miyake label and Apple have never actually worked together, their collaboration feels like it\u2019s been a long time coming, since it was Miyake who cultivated the Jobs aesthetic, which came to symbolize the sleek elegance of Apple under his purview.<\/p>\n

In its long, crossbody size \u2014 which comes in just three colors \u2014 the iPhone Pocket is building on the existing trend of crossbody phone accessories<\/a>. Apple even released its own $59 crossbody strap this year, which we found to be well-made, though a bit finicky for regular use<\/a>. (Some photographers, however, claim that it\u2019s the perfect camera strap<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But in the short size \u2014 which we expect will be more popular, given its lower price and wide color range \u2014 Apple could be riffing on Labubu<\/a>. Hear me out. <\/p>\n

\"designerImage Credits:LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA \/ Contributor \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Like the iPhone Pocket, the popularity of Labubu seems frivolous and incomprehensible in a way that only made them more interesting to those who bought them. While a single \u201cblind box\u201d Labubu costs around $30, some rare variations of the monster plush keychains could cost up to $10,000<\/a> at the height of the craze. But the more obvious comparison between the Labubu and the short iPhone Pocket is that they are accessories for your accessories. (Perhaps this is downstream of yet another befuddling trend: accessorizing your Stanley Cup<\/a>).<\/p>\n

With Tap to Pay technology, or literal wallets that attach to your phone, you can leave the house with just your phone and navigate the world just fine. (Bonus points if your door unlocks by inputting a code \u2014 no keys!). It\u2019s no wonder that more bags are being designed for phones themselves. Think about how popular those miniature Trader Joe\u2019s bags<\/a> were, or how the small crossbody Telfar remains an \u201cit\u201d bag. Brands like Free People<\/a>, Baggu<\/a>, Lululemon<\/a>, and even IKEA<\/a> are selling keychains that are just tiny versions of their existing bags. It\u2019s not that much of a stretch to say that a sock could be next.<\/p>\n

Will the iPhone Pocket become the Labubu of 2026? I wouldn\u2019t bet on it. But if it does catch on as a holiday gift this season, I\u2019ll still say I told you so.<\/p>\n