Apple Watch Leather Bands May Be Discontinued for Series 9

[MacRumors]

Late last month, rumors suggested that Apple plans to eliminate leather cases for the iPhone 15 lineup, and today we are hearing that Apple Watch leather bands may also soon be phased out as part of a fresh sustainability push by Apple.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple will "begin moving away from leather on its Apple Watch bands as well," which, as he rightly notes, puts the future of Apple's partnership with luxury brand Hermès in question.

Adding weight to this assumption, Gurman reports that last month Apple began offering employees its Apple Watch Hermès leather accessories and leather link bands at heavily discounted prices – in some cases up to 90% off – in a clear indication that Apple is clearing its inventory.

Gurman offers the example of Apple Hermès bands with a retail price of $850 – likely the Noir Swift Leather Gourmette (Metal) Double Tour – being offered to staff for $85. The internal deal is said to be continuing even though many Hermès bands are officially out of stock.

Hermès Noir Swift Leather Gourmette (Metal) Double Tour ​

"Several other accessories including many Solo Loop bands in outgoing colors and the MagSafe charging dock [sic] are also on deep discount to clear stock," added the reporter in a Twitter (X) post, suggesting these too are set to be replaced imminently. (Note: It's not yet clear which MagSafe charger Gurman is referring to here.)

Last week we reported on rumors suggesting Apple intends to offer leather-alternative iPhone 15 cases with a woven fabric look, under the case moniker "FineWoven." If this is accurate, Apple would presumably sell silicone cases and the new "FineWoven" cases, replicas of which have been shared online.

• What Not to Expect at Apple's 'Wonderlust' September 12 Event

A leather alternative that is fabric-based would have a smaller carbon footprint than a case made from traditional cowhide, and it would be more environmentally friendly. Indeed, Gurman speculates that sustainability will be a "larger than normal" part of Apple's "Wonderlust" September 12th event, where it is expected to unveil its new iPhone 15 lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, among other possible new products.

Article Link: Apple Watch Leather Bands May Be Discontinued for Series 9

 

[JanoschR]

Would be a sad day for all band enthusiasts and connoisseurs of fine French leather 😢

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Tim is going all out to save the animals this year. The non leather alternative will of course be the same price.

 

[abatabia]

Good move. I’m all for saving animals.

 

[mongobongo]

What is the MagSafe charging dock? Hopefully he means MagSafe Duo! I want one with USB-C and most imprtantly, fast charging for Apple Watch. Finally!

 

[AppleUser2]

Would be a sad day for all band enthusiasts and connoisseurs of fine French leather 😢

Not for the animals/environment. Not sure why it’s taken Apple so long to do this across their range to be honest.

 

[jchatwood]

This drives me crazy - I’m a leather technician and if people understood leather is made from taking a byproduct (waste, if you like) of the meat industry, and reusing it as a sustainable, long lasting material. What do we think happens if we don’t use these hides for leather - they go to landfill 🤷‍♂️ I’m all for apple creating different bands/using different materials, but don’t tell me something synthetic, bound by acrylics, is going to be more sustainable and better for the environment. The move by apple for sure is to appear ‘greener’ to certain consumers, but in reality will come down to cost savings.

I see people commenting that they are all for saving animals - but animals typically used for leather (Bovine) are never killed for the hides - they are killed for the meat.

These animals will be slaughtered if apple makes leather bands or not.

 

[amn3siak]

I fail to see how synthetic materials, which needs chemicals and energy to produce, aren't durable, and need thousands of year to be degraded, are better for the environment than animal skin... 🤔

 

[mongobongo]

This drives me crazy - I’m a leather technician and if people understood leather is made from taking a byproduct (waste, if you like) of the meat industry, and reusing it as a sustainable, long lasting material. What do we think happens if we don’t use these hides for leather - they go to landfill 🤷‍♂️ I’m all for apple creating different bands/using different materials, but don’t tell me something synthetic, bound by acrylics, is going to be more sustainable and better for the environment. The move by apple for sure is to appear ‘greener’ to certain consumers, but in reality will come down to cost savings.

I see people commenting that they are all for saving animals - but animals typically used for leather (Bovine) are never killed for the hides - they are killed for the meat.

These animals will be slaughtered if apple makes leather bands or not.

Great take, important perspective.

 

[xDKP]

This drives me crazy - I’m a leather technician and if people understood leather is made from taking a byproduct (waste, if you like) of the meat industry, and reusing it as a sustainable, long lasting material. What do we think happens if we don’t use these hides for leather - they go to landfill 🤷‍♂️ I’m all for apple creating different bands/using different materials, but don’t tell me something synthetic, bound by acrylics, is going to be more sustainable and better for the environment. The move by apple for sure is to appear ‘greener’ to certain consumers, but in reality will come down to cost savings.

I see people commenting that they are all for saving animals - but animals typically used for leather (Bovine) are never killed for the hides - they are killed for the meat.

These animals will be slaughtered if apple makes leather bands or not.

Great perspective! Greenwashing can sometimes be super frustrating! And if you take good care of your leather boots, straps, bags etc. they will last a lifetime - no canvas straps etc. will come close

 

[Fatboy71]

Lets face it, animals are reared and killed for us to eat. Leather is a byproduct/waste from the butchering process, so what better way to use this byproduct than to create things from it. The more companies that ditch leather in a bid to appear more sustainable, the more leather is going to be put in landfill. Pointless decision in my opinion.

 

[tomtad]

Can someone please sack this man, he’s out of control.

 

[CJM]

The only downside to leather are the chemicals from the tannery. That’s what concerns me most. If Apple could work to reduce them, they could be on to a winner. But animal hides are much better for the environment than plastics.

 

[JanoschR]

Not for the animals/environment. Not sure why it’s taken Apple so long to do this across their range to be honest.

You really think there are cows in Apples backyard and every time a user orders a leather band, they'll have to slaughter one? That's not how it works.

 

[contacos]

Not for the animals/environment. Not sure why it’s taken Apple so long to do this across their range to be honest.

Do you really think an animal gets only killed for its skin? This is basically re-using „waste“ of said animal that is already dead for other reasons (meat)

 

[jchatwood]

The only downside to leather are the chemicals from the tannery. That’s what concerns me most. If Apple could work to reduce them, they could be on to a winner. But animal hides are much better for the environment than plastics.

I completely agree - but many companies, including where I work, are actively developing bio based technologies to tan leather, free of heavy metals and glutaraldehyde - the leather industry is changing for the better!

 

[W2u7Yw4HaD]

This drives me crazy - I’m a leather technician and if people understood leather is made from taking a byproduct (waste, if you like) of the meat industry, and reusing it as a sustainable, long lasting material. What do we think happens if we don’t use these hides for leather - they go to landfill 🤷‍♂️ I’m all for apple creating different bands/using different materials, but don’t tell me something synthetic, bound by acrylics, is going to be more sustainable and better for the environment. The move by apple for sure is to appear ‘greener’ to certain consumers, but in reality will come down to cost savings.

I see people commenting that they are all for saving animals - but animals typically used for leather (Bovine) are never killed for the hides - they are killed for the meat.

These animals will be slaughtered if apple makes leather bands or not.

Wholy agree and was going to comment the same.. If we can not raise to kill them, then I can see this move would make sense. Eventually, humanity will realize killing and eating animals is unethical, and lab-grown meat will be the way forward I think.

I suspect lab-grown leather will eventually be possible also, so win-win there....

I suspect we will look back someday and say they were savages back in 2023 still... Understandably, we aren't there yet wholly for lab-grown stuff..

 

[JCCL]

Gotta follow the trend, while this usually is produced from animals processed for food…. Looks like synthetic products it is now though.

 

[mushy peas]

I’m with the majority here, disappointed at the disappearance of leather and it’s replacement by no doubt inferior synthetic materials (which will probably some kind of plastic made with oil).

The synthetic materials Apple are already using in the loops are disappointing quality and don’t wear well at all. Whereas I’ll be able to use my Hermes bands for as long as the connecter is in place - and probably for years thereafter with the inevitable adapter.

And I bet the replacements are closer in price to the leather bands while being completely inferior too.

 

[AppleUser2]

Do you really think an animal gets only killed for its skin? This is basically re-using „waste“ of said animal that is already dead for other reasons (meat)

Nope. It’s all economics. The industry bakes in the total value of an animal so when you take away demand the value decreases so fewer get farmed. Stepping back though. In 2023 do we really want dead animal skins protecting our devices?

 

[french-fries]

This drives me crazy - I’m a leather technician and if people understood leather is made from taking a byproduct (waste, if you like) of the meat industry, and reusing it as a sustainable, long lasting material. What do we think happens if we don’t use these hides for leather - they go to landfill 🤷‍♂️ I’m all for apple creating different bands/using different materials, but don’t tell me something synthetic, bound by acrylics, is going to be more sustainable and better for the environment. The move by apple for sure is to appear ‘greener’ to certain consumers, but in reality will come down to cost savings.

I see people commenting that they are all for saving animals - but animals typically used for leather (Bovine) are never killed for the hides - they are killed for the meat.

These animals will be slaughtered if apple makes leather bands or not.

This argument is absurd. Whether meat is a byproduct of leather or the opposite is just a matter of money and perspective. The companies that produce and kill these animals make a profit off of these abused animals, and the profit comes from different sources: meat, hair, skin, bones, etc...

These all make these industries viable and allow for more animals to be abused and our environment to be destroyed.

To think that cows would not be (or are not) killed solely for their leather is also very naive when you look at what people are doing for fur and other types of leather / skin.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Sad day for Apple Watch Hermès enthusiasts like myself if this turns out to be true

I have a large number of leather bands that will probably go up in price as they become collector’s items?!

 

[JanoschR]

Nope. It’s all economics. The industry bakes in the total value of an animal so when you take away demand the value decreases so fewer get farmed. Stepping back though. In 2023 do we really want dead animal skins protecting our devices?

Yes.

 

[SpotOnT]

Good move. I’m all for saving animals.

Except this doesn’t save any animals… leather is a byproduct of the food industry. The food industry results in more leather than the leather industry needs.

 

[Four oF NINE]

Good move. I’m all for saving animals.

This saves no animals.. Leather is a by-product of meat production. They're not going to throw away the hides. It's a stupid and moronic move.