If you’re as old as I am and remember your OG iPod fondly, you’ll probably remember the iPod Sock.
They were a set of multi-coloured cotton knit socks introduced back in 2004 to protect iPods from damage during travel, and were on sale all the way until 2012.
They were essentially what they sounded like – a simple knitted pouch for your iPod – and even Steve Jobs himself jokingly described the accessory as a “revolutionary new product” at its reveal. That’s a level of self-awareness you rarely see from Apple these days.
Well, it looks like the iPod Sock now has a – much, much more expensive – spiritual successor in the form of the iPhone Pocket.
Designed in collaboration with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE, this limited-edition kitted sling is designed to carry not only your iPhone but also AirPods and other small accessories.
Much like its inspiration, the new iPhone Pocket is a stretchy pocket, albeit an elongated one, made from a ribbed, elastic textile. The fashion house’s design director, Yoshiyuki Miyamae, says it’s inspired by the concept of a “piece of cloth,” but we all know what it’s really based on.
There are two versions of the Pocket available – one with a short strap and another with a long strap – that allow you to wear the accessory in a number of different ways, whether handheld, tied onto bags or, with the longer strap, worn across the body like a strap.
In true Apple fashion, the Pocket is available in a variety of colours to match and complement the colours of its recent iPhone collection, though the shades depend on the length of the strap you choose.
The shorter strap is available in lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon, and black, while the longer alternative comes in sapphire, cinnamon, and black.
The bigger shock for me is just how much these accessories cost. While the OG iPod Sock would only set you back $29, the iPhone Pocket retails at $149.95 and $229.95 for the short and long variants, respectively.
I must say, I did not have this on my 2025 bingo card. In a world where phones can cost over £1000/$1000 – including Apple’s iPhone – most are instead focused on keeping them safe and secure. But not Apple.
The iPhone is increasingly becoming more of a fashion accessory, highlighted not only by the new Pocket but also by the crossbody strap released alongside the iPhone 17 – but the world is what the world is, and there are plenty of unscrupulous individuals who’d take advantage of an iPhone in easy grasp.
I think I’ll be keeping my phone in my pocket, safe and secure. Sorry, Apple.
