Apple is promoting its latest accessory as “a beautiful way to wear and carry an iPhone”. To the more cynical ­– and anyone over the age of 30 – it’s a very costly knitted sock that your nan could probably replicate for the price of a couple of balls of wool.

The iPhone Pocket, unveiled this week and available from Friday, is basically a limited-edition knitted sleeve available in an array of colours and designed to carry an iPhone or other small items.

It’s the result of a collaboration between the tech company and Japanese fashion brand Issey Miyake, said to be inspired by Miyake’s concept of “a piece of cloth”.

This particular piece of ribbed cloth will set buyers back an eye-watering $US149.95 ($A228) for the short strap or $US229.95 ($A350) for the long strap.

“When stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents and allows users to peek at their iPhone display,” Apple says.

“iPhone Pocket can be worn in a variety of ways – handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body.”

The short strap iPhone pocket comes in a choice of eight colours. Photo: Apple

On social media, the pocket has gone off like a rocket.

The verdict of many users is that it’s ugly, unnecessary, seriously over-priced and “feels like a two-year-old came up with the concept”.

“$230 for a cut-up sock,” wrote X user @bentleyhasfallen. ”Apple people will pay anything for anything as long as it’s Apple.”

“This is just ridiculous… I’m, like, why would you want to wear your iPhone like that,” said Fashion Roadman on YouTube. “Considering that basically this is a glorified sock, I just don’t understand the proposition.”

TikToker Tyler Morgan was even more blunt: “It’s a sock, it’s a f—ing sock. It’s the short sock, it’s the long sock.”

@josiahmcroberts Apples iPhone pocket is STUPID🤔#apple ♬ original sound – josiahmcroberts

Social media consultant and analyst Matt Navara also weighed in on the discussion, telling the BBC the price tag seemed to be more about “form, branding and exclusivity” rather than function.

“This kind of pricing is not new in the world of luxury fashion or designer collabs,” he said.

“But for most consumers, it feels like Apple is testing the limits of brand loyalty.”

Some iPhone aficionados, however, have swallowed the Kool-Aid along with the cool colours, labelling the pocket as an iconic new accessory.

“This chic accessory signals how our phones are increasingly becoming a part of our outfit – they’re basically a natural extension of a phone case,” said @wadzizoe on TikTok.

She also noted that the iPhone Pocket seemed a bit like a “hyped-up” version of the iPod Nano sleeves that Apple launched in 2004 – but they came in a pack of six and sold for $US29 (SA44).

@wadzizoe Is Apples new release of the iPhone pocket just a hyped up version of the IPod nano sock?! #apple #stevejobs #isseymiyake ♬ Sketches After Dark – The Velvet Notes

The founder of the eponymous Issey Miyake label was a friend of Apple’s co-founder, the late Steve Jobs, and also made the trademark black turtlenecks he regularly wore.

Miyake introduced his “a piece of cloth” (APOC) apparel concept in 1997, according to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the idea of highlighting the two-dimensional quality of a single piece of cloth and minimise waste.

Apple describes the iPhone Pocket as a “singular 3D knitted construction”, with the short version available in eight colours ­–  lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon and black ­ – and the long version coming in sapphire, cinnamon and black.

Yoshiyuki Miyamae, design director of Miyake Design Studio, said the design “speaks to the bond between iPhone and its user”.

“iPhone Pocket explores the concept of ‘the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way’.

“The simplicity of its design echoes what we practice at Issey Miyake – the idea of leaving things less defined to allow for possibilities and personal interpretation.”

Australia is not one of the eight locations worldwide where Apple stores will stock the pocket, but it will also be available at apple.com.

Alternatively, you could hit up Nan to make you one… perhaps she could crochet a reading-glasses cord to match.