Ever since Apple released the twenty-dollar “polishing cloth” in 2021, a tiny square of fabric that many people joked about, or the 999 dollar “Pro Display” stand in 2019, the company has been criticized for selling products that feel overpriced and unimpressive. The new “Apple Pocket” has only added to that reputation. The Apple Pocket is a small 3D-knitted bag made with the Japanese fashion brand Issey Miyake, designed to let people wear their phone across their chest. When it became available to the public on November 14th for 230 dollars, many consumers compared it to a stretched-out sock. Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee even suggested that Apple might be testing how far its fans will go to defend anything the company releases. Since then, the product has sparked debate among consumers and tech enthusiasts about whether this unusual sleeve is a sensible idea or a sign of a larger problem.
The tech industry is known for constant innovation, but the Apple Pocket seems to cross a line between creativity and exclusivity. A 230 dollar phone sling is not designed for the average American buyer. Instead, it targets a much smaller group of people who can afford luxury items. Studies show that expensive technology often becomes a symbol of status and prestige, encouraging people to buy items simply because they signal wealth and importance.
But what if that is exactly what Apple intended? Limited, high-end collaborations (like this one with Issey Miyake) can boost sales while also giving buyers a feeling of uniqueness. In recent years, Americans have increased their spending on luxury goods, which has helped companies like Apple earn even more profit. The Apple Pocket fits neatly into this trend.
However, the effects of exclusivity go deeper than many people realize. Research from the National Library of Medicine shows that social exclusion can shape how people see themselves and others. In this case, Apple’s product may unintentionally contribute to negative attitudes towards people with lower incomes. By releasing a pricey item that is marketed as stylish and desirable, Apple creates a kind of competition over who can afford it first. This can make people who cannot buy it feel embarrassed or left out. When society begins to value expensive, unnecessary items more than community, kindness, or shared experiences, we risk reading a more divided and less welcoming world.
Whether someone likes the design of the Apple Pocket or not, the large issue is clear: Apple is moving toward a business model that builds social hierarchies based on money. This approach can harm vulnerable communities that encourage people to judge others by what they can afford. A simple phone sling may seem harmless, but the controversy surrounding it shows how easily a product can make us rethink the role of exclusivity in our culture.
