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FineWoven Magnetic Link for Apple Watch Now Available to Order
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I was looking at the "finewoven" band for my new Watch 9. Luckily it was out of stock, and I got the stainless steel Milanese band instead. Which is absolutely my favorite Apple band so far.
They really try to sell this recycled fabric as the next-gen leather replacement haha
Im not certain this is the only reason for the change. I think apple might have wanted to get out of the leather business altogether, as it’s a true pain in the ass and rife with difficulties and imperfect processes. Yes, its a nice marketing angle to be more green, and yes it is a priority for apple (and everyone with a conscience), but Im skeptical it wasnt just to make their job easier to hot have to deal with this whole market segment. For reference, Im an industrial designer who specializes in soft goods and did a tour at a high-end leather accessories company.
That seems like an exaggeration. It’s woven nylon (made by a premium company) not toxic waste! Its probably nice, just probably stains and marks up more than leather does.
Nylon is a group of synthetic textile fibers made of polyamides, i.e. fibers produced from oil. Nylon is a cheap, light, smooth and strong material that withstands moisture and is easy to dye. It is used in clothing, ropes, bags, brushes, guitar strings, fishing lines and other items. There are also hydrocarbons in nylon.
Cows are made of grass!
They don't feel like suede at all so suede-like is quite a fabrication, as someone who has actually touched the case.
But, leather treatment and leather working is one of the most environmentally harmful processes I can think of, frequently involving highly toxic tanning agents and dyes, as well as plastics for coatings and fillers. Not to mention the environmental and moral catastrophe involved from the perspective of industrial cow farming (hint: they arent “made of grass”). Gram for gram the previous iphone “leather case” was mostly hydrocarbon-based plastic, from the frame to the polyurethane “paint” used on the outside that one would touch and feel. If the cases were full grain leather taken from free range cattle I’d say u have a point, but Apple’s cases weren’t that. They just deleted the tiny amount of “leather” from an otherwise plastic case and added more plastic.
"Leather", but yeah, I hear you. Just saying apple never made a leather case before, only a "leather" case.
Those of you who ordered a FineWoven band, love it if you post a pic on wrist when you get it. I find Apple's promo shots are fake looking...too idealized/perfect. Kind of like the iPhone Camera photos, but that's a different topic...
I had the Leather Link band - very comfortable and the easy adjustability is great when you're typing on your Macbook and don't want to wear the band on the 'book's hard edges (which made my Leather Link look like crap in just 3 months).
I think there's at least an even chance FW bands will be better; I expect them to wear, certainly, but they shouldn't lose their color from same because it's not a top-applied pigment. For the record, I prefer leather, but so far I prefer FineWoven (I have the taupe iPhone case) to Apple's recent leathers.
Regarding other comments: I agree "suede" is completely the wrong term for the way it feels, to me it's more of a satin twill touch (satin because it's slick, but twill gives some repeating pattern, it's not completely smooth like nylon). As for the cost: I don't think the price is out of line with the Apple reality, which is they charge a premium for everything. What price should they have charged? $49? They're not going to price them below their other cases. So they're overpriced by $10? I don't think that's an amount that justifies the cry.
I had the Leather Link band - very comfortable and the easy adjustability is great when you're typing on your Macbook and don't want to wear the band on the 'book's hard edges (which made my Leather Link look like crap in just 3 months).
I think there's at least an even chance FW bands will be better; I expect them to wear, certainly, but they shouldn't lose their color from same because it's not a top-applied pigment. For the record, I prefer leather, but so far I prefer FineWoven (I have the taupe iPhone case) to Apple's recent leathers.
Regarding other comments: I agree "suede" is completely the wrong term for the way it feels, to me it's more of a satin twill touch (satin because it's slick, but twill gives some repeating pattern, it's not completely smooth like nylon). As for the cost: I don't think the price is out of line with the Apple reality, which is they charge a premium for everything. What price should they have charged? $49? They're not going to price them below their other cases. So they're overpriced by $10? I don't think that's an amount that justifies the cry.
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To be honest, I have not seen or touched a FW case, but it feels like a fine or soft suede. I did try to press my nail into it and did not see much indentation or a scratch
Well I am intrigued. I hated the case and it got marked up immediately. I may order one of these, can always return it if necessary.