Luxury goods retailer Hermès has made a surprising decision by removing all of its leather bands for the Apple Watch from its online store. This move comes just days ahead of Apple’s highly anticipated unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 9 and iPhone 15.
The removal of Hermès’ leather bands raises questions about Apple’s reported plan to “move away from leather” for its iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, citing environmental and sustainability reasons. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman brought attention to this possibility, questioning how it would impact Apple’s partnership with Hermès, which had previously offered luxurious leather bands for the Apple Watch.
Evidence of Hermès’ decision can be seen in screenshots depicting the brand’s website before and after the removal of the leather band link. Additionally, an empty product page on 9to5Mac revealed the extensive range of leather bands that were previously available.
The implications of this move remain unclear. It is uncertain whether this signals the end of Apple’s partnership with Hermès or if the retailer is preparing to introduce new non-leather or alternative leather accessories to its online store.
Apple’s shift away from leather may be confirmed during their upcoming product launch event. Speculation suggests that the event will feature the introduction of synthetic band and case options to replace the phased-out leather ones. Environment and sustainability are expected to be prominent themes during the event, aligning with Apple’s ongoing commitment to reducing its ecological footprint.
Apple fans eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the company’s latest products and plans, which will be unveiled during the highly anticipated event. All will be revealed in just a couple of days, making this Apple’s biggest event of the year.
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