Apple has completely said goodbye to its leather products
It no longer even sells third-party leather accessories on the official e-shop
Instead, it offers vegan leather or a special FineWoven fabric
As part of ecology and environmental friendliness, Apple has decided to do away with leather accessories, which it has offered for many years with its products across all segments. According to new information from the official e-shop, Apple is also getting rid of third-party products that have to do with skin.
Leather will be replaced by FineWoven
At the official Keynote on September 12, Apple solemnly announced that it will stop offering leather products. Of course, the opinion at that time mainly concerned the new iPhones, for which new types of accessories were immediately introduced, which de facto represent the existing leather accessories.
Instead of leather, Apple uses a brand new material called FineWoven. It is actually an artificial fiber made of microtwill, which is specially modified to feel like alcantara or suede. “FineWoven is designed with the planet in mind – over 68% is made from post-consumer recycled material. In comparison with leather, significantly fewer carbon emissions are generated.” available on the official e-shop.
As one of the first, we had the opportunity to try accessories made of FineWoven material, and we must admit that it is a very nice surface to the touch, which you will get used to very quickly. However, it is not clear how it will withstand dirt and possible abrasions. In any case – if you’re expecting a leather-like material, something like vegan leather, you’re wrong.
Partners are also unlucky
Apple began a “leather purge” of its own and immediately stopped offering any leather products of its own production. He replaced iPhone cases with FineWoven material, as well as small MagSafe wallets. Even keychains for smart AirTag locators are now being sold from this fabric.
This is what FineWoven fabric straps look like
For the Apple Watch, it now extends more than before the pull-through straps made of nylon fabric with velcro, but also offers silicone, knitted or steel solutions. Instead of leather, here again FineWoven fabric has been given space, from which you can also buy watch straps in addition to the accessories mentioned above. They are available magnetic or with a so-called modern buckle. Also, Ultra watches are now only offered with silicone and nylon straps.
What is perhaps the most surprising is that Apple also said goodbye to the leather products of its partners. In the past, it was quite common for Apple to offer leather products directly on its e-shop from third parties with whom it had good relations. For example, brands like OtterBox, Nomad and the like. It could be cases, covers for MacBooks or keychains for AirTags.
You won’t find anything like this on the official e-shop. Apple’s American e-shop doesn’t even offer leather in the product filter, only vegan leather – and there aren’t many of these products either. Czech Mutation still has the option to filter leather products, but there are only three specific products in the entire e-shop: two OtterBox covers for the iPhone XS (Max) and a leather case for the Apple Pencil.
There is one exception
It is important to note that Apple’s regulations on leather products do not at the same time prohibit third-party companies from producing these accessories, but they do not have a place on the official Apple e-shop. There is only one exception – a company focused on cowhide products, with which Apple closely cooperates, promoting its products even during press conferences.
The last leather “swallows” in the Apple e-shop
We mean Hermès, the French icon in the luxury fashion accessories market. At Apple, Hermès specializes in luxury straps for the Apple Watch, which, as usual, are made of leather. However, this only applies to older lines of French brand accessories. Regarding those, Apple refers customers to the partner’s site.
Even the new straps from Hermès for the Series 9 watches are made of fabric, chevron knit or special durable silicone. Leather simply has no place at Apple, and as you can see, this also applies to the closest colleagues.
Author of the article
Jakub Fischer
Journalist, fan of modern technology, summer months and Asian food. I like Lynch movies, Pollock paintings, french house and Arsenal football club. In my spare time, I play PlayStation and go jogging.
2023-09-24 06:00:00
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