Hermès Deviates From Apple’s Leather Ban To Craft New Luxury Watch Straps

While Apple’s brand-new iPhone 15 lineup may have captured headlines all over the globe, there’s one piece of news that may have flown under the radar. Turns out, the technology giant is ditching leather for good.

In an effort to make its products more eco-friendly, the company announced it would be replacing leather accessories with items made out of FineWoven—a proprietary material made from 68% post-consumer recycled content.

However, for those still unwilling to let go of calfskin goods, there’s always Hermès. Despite its long-standing partnership with the Cupertino-based firm, it seems the luxury label will not be bidding goodbye to animal hides just yet.

Fans can pair their updated Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models with all-new bands from the fashion house. There are 47 designs to choose from, all of which can be purchased separately or with a gadget.

According to AppleInsider, over 20 of the latest Hermès bands feature leather in various forms of “calfskin,” while others comprise materials including knitted nylon and rubber.

Head here for more information on the release. The accessories are currently on sale from US$349 to US$589, with Apple Watch + strap combinations ranging from US$1,249 to US$1,539.

[via AppleInsider and Wccftech, images via Hermès]