What’s happened? Today marks the 24th anniversary of the iPod, and I was secretly hoping Apple would commemorate it with a modern revival of that iconic standalone music player. Instead, we got the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition accessory that resembles an expensive sock but is officially labeled as a piece of wearable design.
- Created in collaboration with Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake, the iPhone Pocket carries the phone in a knitted cross-body pouch.
- You can buy the short strap design for $150 in 8 colors: lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon, and black.
- The long-strap version is priced at $230 but comes in only sapphire, cinnamon, and black color.
- Apple calls it “a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone,” making it a designer bag for your handset.
Why this matters? The iPhone Pocket feels like Apple circling back to one of its quirkiest accessories, the $29 iPod Socks, which debuted in 2004. Those colorful knit sleeves were charming but hardly practical. It was basically a soft slipcase for your iPod, without straps or fasteners.
- Two decades later, Apple seems to have upgraded that same idea with the new iPhone Pocket that features a ribbed open-knit structure.
- The fabric can be stretched to fit small essentials like AirPods or Apple Watch alongside the iPhone.
Why should I care? At first glance, the iPhone Pocket might look like a fashion gimmick, but in an era where phones rarely leave our hands, Apple is turning carrying an iPhone into a design statement.
- The cross-body design gives hands-free access during commutes, events, or travel.
- It can be worn multiple ways, like handheld, tied onto a bag, or worn directly on the body like a sling bag.
But if you are craving a true hit of iPod nostalgia like me, try this retro iPod-style iPhone app that transforms your phone into the music player you actually miss.
