Hermes parts ways with Apple and pulls a new range of Apple Watch leather bands
Apple's leather bands out, Hermes' leather bands in – The two brands are going separate ways.
Courtesy of Hermes
Luxury fashion house Hermes has decided to go its own way, splitting from Apple. As Apple enthusiasts eagerly awaited the unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, there was a surprising plot twist – Hermes, the erstwhile partner of Apple in crafting leather watch bands, was heading out the door.
Rumors were circulating even before it was confirmed that Apple was ditching leather, and then it happened: “Leather is a popular material for accessories,” Apple’s Lisa Jackson said at the Apple Watch Series 9 launch, “but it has a significant carbon footprint, especially at Apple scale. To reduce our impact we will no longer use leather in any new Apple product,” she continued, “including watchbands and that starts today.” Leather was no longer an option for the Californian giant.
No longer available through Apple, Hermes, then pulled Apple Watch bands from its own site. Following Apple’s Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 launches, the luxury brand restocked its store with a range of new bands, 47 varieties to be exact. Over 20 of the new bands are leather, or various forms of “calfskin”, as described by Hermes. The others are all nylon or rubber.
Want leather? Head to Hermes.
