One of my favourite Apple Watch bands is the Pride band. So it’s great to see in celebration of Pride month in June, Apple is releasing two new Pride Edition bands plus dynamic Pride watch faces in support of the global LGBTQ+ community and equality movement.
The 2022 Pride Edition Sport Loop displays a colour gradient with the word ‘pride’ woven directly into the band. Apple is also launching a new Shot on iPhone pride campaign on Instagram that captures the essence of artists and figures within the global LGBTQ+ community.
Pride Edition Sport Loop
Apple used a new technique to remove several of the double-layer nylon-woven textile loops on the band to reveal the word ‘pride’ in a cursive style inspired by the original ‘hello’ greeting — displayed on the first Macintosh in 1984 — giving the word a novel, three-dimensional look and feel.
A colour gradient was designed incorporating the original rainbow colours with those drawn from various pride flags. The colours also represent those who are living with or have passed away from HIV/AIDS.
Pride Threads Watch Face
The new watch face was inspired by multiple pride flags, combining colours to represent the LGBTQ+ movement. Mirroring the woven loops of the Sport Loop, each strand of vibrant thread contributes to the overall composition of the watch face. The colourful threads move as the Digital Crown on Apple Watch is rotated, the display is tapped or the user’s wrist is raised. Apple is also including new App Clip functionality within the band packaging to deliver a simple and convenient way for customers to immediately access the new matching watch face.
Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop
A new Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop features a matching rainbow-coloured Nike Bounce face that accompanies the new band. Along with Nike’s Be True collection, the Sport Loop honours individuals who are expanding sport for future generations. Be True is part of Nike’s broader commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, which focuses on recognition, advocacy, inspiration and education.
A New Shot on iPhone Pride Campaign
Apple says the Shot on iPhone Pride campaign will showcase imagery from an illustrious group of intersectional creatives, celebrating present-day queer pioneers in places of historic significance to the LGBTQ+ movement. Coming soon to @apple on Instagram, the series will feature works from photographers Ryan McGinley at Stonewall Inn in New York; Evan Benally Atwood at Window Rock in Arizona; Meinke Klein at The Homomonument in Amsterdam; Caia Ramalho at Paulista Avenue in São Paulo; Lydia Metral at Plaza de Chueca in Madrid; and Collier Schorr at Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco, featuring Baobei.
Pricing and Availability
The Pride Edition Sport Loop and Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop are available for $69 AUD RRP.
The new Pride Edition bands are available to order now via apple.com/au and in the Apple Store app, and will be available at Apple Store locations beginning on 26 May. The Pride Edition Nike Sport Loop is also coming soon to nike.com.
The new Pride watch face is available now for Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.6, and iPhone 6s or later running iOS 15.5.