Native Union’s Sleek (Re)Classic Apple Watch Bands Are Made of Plant-Based Leather

Posted on 01/11/2023 by Gabriel Moss

If you’re an iPhone user with a taste for leather cases, you might already know all about Native Union’s knack for designing high-quality accessories, like their leather MagSafe iPhone 14 case, made in collaboration with Maison Kitsuné. Now there’s a similar cruelty-free Italian leather-inspired band for your Apple Watch. It’s made of Yatay, a leather-like compound that makes up the construction of Native Union’s gorgeous (Re)Classic Apple Watch Band design, and you can get your own for $59.99.

Designer: Native Union

Buy it now on Amazon

If you told me the (Re)Classic Band for Apple Watch in its light brown Kraft colorway was made of repurposed mycelium — fungal threads spanning long distances underground, which mushrooms blossom out of — I absolutely would not believe you. And yet, that’s one of the many all-natural resources used in the synthesis of Yatay by Coronet.

It sounds like everything from Native Union’s stainless steel clasp to its comfortable, soft-lined backing is made of recycled materials. (Re)Classic style is finely textured, giving it a sophisticated look that does quite a bit to distract from the fact it… isn’t made of genuine leather. Still, the high level of craftsmanship lent to these intricately-designed plant-based leather wristbands is difficult to deny.

All of Native Union’s straps come with integrated lugs, which connect directly to the Apple Watch — specifically, the little cutouts on the top and bottom of the Apple Watch where a wristband is locked in place. That means they blend naturally with any color configuration, and Native Union really wants to emphasize how important that is, citing the integrated lugs as a central focal point of (Re)Classic design ethos on its official product page:

“We designed (Re)Classic Band to match the textured elegance of (Re)Classic Case for iPhone and AirPods, now for your Apple Watch. Made to be a refined complement to your digital timepiece, we went one step further with fully wrapped integrated lugs so that the straps becomes a seamless extension of your Apple Watch without any visible hardware. A leather-like strap with wrapped lugs is something we’ve been searching for for a while now, so we made it ourselves.”

If you own one of the older Apple Watch Series, don’t worry: these bands come in two sizes that are compatible with every main-line Apple Watch model, depending on the size you wear. Though, you’ll want to specifically order the 38/40/41mm configuration if you’re rocking an Apple Watch SE or SE 2. And likewise, you’ll want to go for the 42/44/45mm measurement if you’re planning to attach one of these fine wristbands to an Apple Watch Ultra or Ultra 4.

The post Native Union’s Sleek (Re)Classic Apple Watch Bands Are Made of Plant-Based Leather first appeared on Yanko Design.

Native Union’s iPhone 14 case comes with a leather build and a companion MagSafe Wallet

Posted on 03/02/2023 by Sarang Sheth

Costing roughly as much as Apple’s own cases, these bad boys from Native Union and Maison Kitsuné come crafted from premium Italian leather. They’re perfectly made for your iPhone 14, are designed with drop-protection and lips around your screen and camera bump, and the case has its own set of magnets to reinforce the attachment of its companion MagSafe wallet, which holds two cards. Apple made the MagSafe Wallet, Native Union just brought better craftsmanship to it.

Designer: Maison Kitsuné x Native Union

The Native Union Profile Fox cases feature a premium leather construction, and both the case and the wallet are emblazoned with Maison Kitsuné’s signature fox logo. The cases and wallets are available in ‘Wine Lees’ brown and ‘Medium Blue’, and are designed to age and patina beautifully with time, creating a product that’s more unique to look at as time goes by.

The case guards your phone, protecting it from drops of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters), while the inside features a recycled microfiber lining that keeps the glass back of your phone free of scratches. Magnets within the case let you easily snap on the wallet, which holds two of your most-used cards. The interaction is reliable and strong, making it a perfect alternative to Apple’s own accessories.

Without the wallet, the Native Union Profile Fox case is still MagSafe compatible, letting you snap on your charger or even use a regular wireless charging pad with your phone. Snap the wallet on and you’ve now got yourself the ideal EDC that fits right in your pocket, giving you access to your tech and cards all in one cohesive unit.

While Apple doesn’t offer warranties on its iPhone accessories, Native Union does. The Profile Fox case and wallet come with a 2-year warranty on construction and manufacturing defects. There’s even a 14-day trial period just in case you’re a little particular about what gear you want to attach to your $1,000 smartphone (you’ve every right to be). The Native Union Profile Fox case and wallet retail for $119.99, and you can even head to the website to get a matching cover for your AirPods case or strap for your watch.

The post Native Union’s iPhone 14 case comes with a leather build and a companion MagSafe Wallet first appeared on Yanko Design.

Native Union’s wireless chargers are styled like fashionable home decor!

Posted on 02/08/2019 by Sarang Sheth

Look at Native Union’s Marquetry Wireless Charger and tell me that it doesn’t look like a fancy table coaster you’d find at IKEA or Bed Bath an Beyond! That’s always been Native Union’s niche though… the intersection between tech and fashion.

Native Union’s Marquetry range is all about exploring color palettes in their triads. The colors are a marvelous combination of rich hues that complement each other really well, and borrow from palettes found in fashion. Marquetry makes use of navy blues, nude pinks, and even brings style to a combination of different values of gray. Native Union’s Marquetry Wireless Charger comes with a circular design, and is hand-crafted from leather. Sporting the signature Marquetry color combination, the charger looks like decor when not in use, and promptly begins charging your phone the minute you rest it on the dock. The wireless charger isn’t flat either, but rests at an inclined angle, making it easy to use your phone while it’s charging, in both landscape as well as portrait… plus with its output of 7.5W, it should juice your smartphone in absolutely no time, so you can go back to admiring it as what it truly is – a stylish piece of tech-infused decor!

Designer: Native Union

Switch It Up

Posted on 27/12/2013 by Radhika Seth

Pump up the jam with the Switch Portable Bluetooth Speaker and Professional Conference Call device. The goodies don’t end here; the thang is also a mobile phone charger! Moreover it is a 3-way speaker that easily pairs wirelessly to Bluetooth devices. Using a full-duplex microphone system, you get clarity of voice. Design-wise I just think it’s clever to shape it like a Lego brick!

Switch features an intuitive volume wheel, inspired by the hi-fi audio systems.
It is powered by three speakers, ensuring optimal sound quality from over 30 feet away from your Bluetooth devices
It features a battery (1800mAh) that acts as a portable phone charger to charge your USB mobile devices.
It can effortlessly alternate between music and calls for up to 14 hours at a time.
Designed to be used vertically or horizontally

Designer: Native Union

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(Switch It Up was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Single Speaker Asset

Posted on 19/12/2013 by Radhika Seth

They say that it’s more than a speaker, handset or speakerphone, and if you ask me honestly then the Monocle is a radicle style statement tech. I love the quirky fact that daisy-chain up to 10 Monocles to create the best listening experience. As a smartphone companion, I think this is a cool design that promises form and function.

Designer: Native Union