Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop (Pride Edition, 44 mm, Size 12, Summer 2021)

The Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch band was released in 2020 along with the Apple Watch Series 6. The packaging describes this product as a “Textile Fitted Band.” According to Apple’s website:

“Each Braided Solo Loop features a unique, stretchable design that’s ultracomfortable and easy to slip on and off your wrist. Created by weaving 16,000 recycled polyester yarn filaments around ultrathin silicone threads using advanced, precision-braiding machinery, then laser cutting the band to an exact length for a custom fit. The band offers a soft, textured feel and is both sweat and water resistant.”

Apple described this band as “Featuring a neon array of colors inspired by Pride flags” to “celebrate the light that allows the LGBTQ+ communities to truly be seen.” This is the second edition of this design and each year Apple has released a custom watch face that matches the Pride Edition bands. (As of 2024, Apple had released three Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop designs.)

According to Apple’s website, “This band comes in custom sizes because it’s designed for an ultracomfortable fit. An accurate measurement will help you get the size that’s right for you.” The website allowed buyers to download a PDF and cut out a “tool” that wrapped around the wrist to designate the band size needed.

As of 2024, Apple lists the following “LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change:”

  • Equality Federation
  • Encircle
  • Equality North Carolina
  • Equality Texas
  • GLSEN
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • PFLAG
  • The National Center for Transgender Equality
  • SMYAL
  • The Trevor Project
  • ILGA World

Source: Apple, Bandbreit app

Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Loop (45 mm, rainbow on white, Summer 2022)

The Apple Watch Sport Loop band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 41 mm and 45 mm Apple Watch models, and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200 mm wrists (41 mm) and 145–220 mm wrists (45 mm). The bands also fit older Apple Watch sizes.

This band has a white background with a multi-color rainbow reminiscent of the LGBTQ+ flag with thread colors of black, purple, royal blue, light blue, light green, goldenrod, salmon, red, and brown. The edges, plastic connectors, and closure are white. On the opposite side of the rainbow design that creates the hook-and-loop closure, the background is transparent white to show a lighter version of the rainbow pattern with the word “pride” written in cursive revealing the bright rainbow pattern within the letters.

Apple described the Pride Edition Sport Loop band:

“Inspired by the strength and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community, the Pride Edition Sport Loop displays a vibrant gradient that unites the core Pride flag and five new colors: Black and brown symbolize marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, as well as those currently living with HIV/AIDS and those who have passed away from it. Light blue, pink, and white honor transgender and nonbinary individuals.”

“Utilizing the Sport Loop form, the band features a double-layer nylon weave composed of soft and breathable textile loops. To create the Pride script, some of these textile loops were removed, resulting in a three-dimensional texture you can see and feel. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability. The hook-and-loop fastener allows for quick and easy adjustment.”

“Apple is proud to financially support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change.”

Source: Apple, Bandbreite

Sport Band 4-pack, Pride Edition (M/L, 2022)

On May 9, 2023, Apple introduced this Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band. This Sport Band was introduced along with a matching watch face and iOS wallpaper. The design is a first for Apple and includes the most colors ever incorporated into a Sport Band. Apple described the Sport Band:

“…the new Sport Band design showcases the original pride flag rainbow colors and five others — black and brown symbolize Black and Latin communities, in addition to those who have passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS, while light blue, pink, and white represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.”

Even the band’s manufacturing process is unique to this design:

“This year’s design integrates a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes on a white base, which are compression-molded into the final band. In the forming process, the base material flows around each individual shape, creating small variations in their layout. No two bands are exactly alike, reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The following organizations are supported by Apple’s sales of this Sport Band:

  • Equality Federation Institute
  • Encircle
  • Equality North Carolina
  • Equality Texas
  • Gender Spectrum
  • GLSEN
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • PFLAG
  • The National Center for Transgender Equality
  • SMYAL
  • The Trevor Project
  • ILGA World

This particular object in my collection includes a four-pack box, likely intended only for an Apple Watch Band distributor. When it arrived, I was not certain what it was since it was shipped as a plain-white, unmarked box with a cardboard zip-style opener. I was surprised to find that the box contained four identical Pride Edition Sport Bands in size M/L.

Source: Apple (Product, Newsroom)

Pirate T-shirt (black, rainbow, XXL, 2019)

This T-shirt features the skull-and-crossbones design that was hand-painted by Susan Kare and flown on a flag over the building housing the creators of the original Macintosh.

According to Susan Kare’s website:

“In 1983, Susan Kare painted the original pirate flag in response to one of Steve Job’s slogans at a Macintosh offsite: It’s better to be a pirate than join the Navy. The original that flew over Bandley 3, the Macintosh building at Apple, Inc. for more than a year…has since been lost…”

This shirt was purchased at the employee Apple Store at One Infinite Loop, Apple original headquarters before Apple Park. The shirt is a size XXL, unopened in its original box. The white box is printed with a white Apple logo and measures 195mm x 195mm x 35mm.

Source: Susan Kare

Nike Sport Loop (45mm, Pride, Summer 2022)

The Nike Sport Loop Apple Watch band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch models, and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200mm wrists and 145–220mm wrists. The bands also fit older Apple Watch sizes of 38mm/42mm and 40mm/44mm.

This Pride design was primarily black and included the colors of the LGBTQ flag. This Nike Sport Loop Pride Edition (2022) is paired here with an Apple Watch Series 3 in white ceramic.

According to Apple’s website:

“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop features a nylon weave inspired by Nike’s Be True collection, an initiative to promote equality in sport. A hook-and-loop fastener makes for quick and easy adjustment, and dense loops on the skin side provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”

Apple and Nike include the statement, “Apple is proud to financially support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change.” A list of organizations is included: Encircle, Equality Federation Institute, Equality North Carolina, Equality Texas, Gender Spectrum, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, The National Center for Transgender Equality, SMYAL, The Trevor Project, and ILGA World.

Source: Apple

Nike Sport Loop (44 mm, Pride, Summer 2021)

The Nike Sport Loop Apple Watch band was woven from nylon thread to create a hook-and-loop closure. These bands were available for the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch models, and were offered in sizes to fit 130–200mm wrists and 145–220mm wrists. The bands also fit older Apple Watch sizes of 38mm/42mm and 40mm/44mm.

This Pride design was primarily white and included the colors of the LGBTQ flag. This Nike Sport Loop Pride Edition (2021) is paired here with an Apple Watch Series 6 in red aluminum.

According to Apple’s website:

“Soft, breathable, and lightweight, the Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop features a nylon weave with reflective rainbow yarn inspired by the Pride flag, designed to shimmer when light strikes it. A hook-and-loop fastener makes for quick and easy adjustment, and dense loops on the skin side provide soft cushioning while allowing moisture to escape. On the reverse side, the attachment loops are securely anchored for superior durability.”

“Apple is proud to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change, including Encircle, Equality North Carolina, Equality Texas, Gender Spectrum, GLSEN, the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG National, National Center for Transgender Equality, SMYAL, and The Trevor Project in the U.S., and ILGA World internationally.”

The final photo was an accident of auto-focus. My Nikon focused on the reflection of its own logo instead of the Watch for one frame. It was so cool, I kept it.

Source: Apple