Tom Sykes: The Future is Not FineWoven

In September, Apple announced its decision to discontinue the use of genuine leather in all new products, including iPhone accessories. As part of this change, Apple introduced a new material called FineWoven, made from micro-twill—a suede-like material comprising of 68 percent post-consumer recycled content.

Apple promotes FineWoven as ‘a luxurious and durable’ material; however, as widely reported, this claim isn’t holding up. Since the launch of Apple’s new FineWoven collection—which includes iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, AirTag loops, and a MagSafe wallet—the material has faced significant criticism. Apple acknowledges that wear will occur during normal use, and numerous users have taken to social media to show that their accessories have marked, faded, or started to peel.

Even before the official launch of the FineWoven collection, back when it was first leaked months prior to its official launch, doubts arose about whether this new leather alternative would match Apple’s usual accessory durability standards. Even before being released to the public, Apple advised that FineWoven products will show wear over time as the fibres get compressed with normal use and that interaction with MagSafe accessories will leave imprints, seemingly warning from the get go that users should not expect the material to match up to its leather and silicone counterparts.

Now, three months after the release of the iPhone 15 and its accompanying FineWoven accessories, I’ve decided to bid farewell to micro-twill and switch back to Apple’s trusted range of silicone iPhone accessories. Why the switch? Well, the initial doubts and concerns were justified—FineWoven just doesn’t meet Apple’s typical accessory durability standards.

Right from the initial charge with my Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, an imprint appeared on the back of my FineWoven iPhone case. Each night, using the Apple MagSafe Duo Charger, this mark worsened. Adding insult to injury, despite not using USB-C for charging, the cutout at the case’s bottom, exposing the port, began to peel.

X (formerly Twitter) is flooded with posts from disappointed customers echoing the same frustration with Apple’s FineWoven lineup. Even conversations with Apple Store employees reveal a shared sense of dissatisfaction in-store. According to one employee I spoke with, FineWoven stands as Apple’s ‘biggest mistake in recent history,’ noting a constant flow of customers returning their damaged FineWoven products on a near-daily basis.

Image: The Apple Post

Despite having my FineWoven iPhone case for three months, Apple honoured a return outside of their 14-day returns window which gave me the opportunity to switch to silicone—an accessory lineup that has proven itself to be far more superior than micro-twill.

Would I recommend anyone try FineWoven? Absolutely not. In my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, the future is not FineWoven, despite its significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to leather and silicone. If Apple wants FineWoven to succeed, it must improve upon its foundation and offer users a higher level of quality, especially if it continues to be sold at the same premium price as its previous leather counterpart.