How a simple strap turned our phones into a fashion accessory

Fashion is not averse to a ridiculous accessory. See, recently, a tiny Fendi lollipop holder, specifically tailored to the measurements of a Chupa Chups and yours for £440 , or a Gucci canvas pet carrier for £2,290. But, sometimes, a trend emerges that is – whisper it – practical and affordable. Enter, this summer, the jazzy phone strap – freeing the palms of everyone from parents and pub-goers to Hollywood stars.

Look around at rush hour, and commuters and tourists alike have their phones hooked on to corded straps and slung across sweaty torsos. Meanwhile, the finishing touch to gen Z’s OOTD videos on TikTok is to clip their phone on to a beaded strap and toss it around a wrist or shoulder.

It’s a trend rooted in practicality. In the UK, the average person checks their phone every 12 minutes . A smartphone has essentially – alarmingly – become an extension of our upper limbs, with most of us not bothering to pop them in a bag or pocket. A strap makes carrying something like the biggest iPhone, which is about the size of a small paperback, less cumbersome.

“In today’s world, our phones have become an extension of our central nervous system, integral to how we navigate daily life,” says Rachel Steed-Middleton, the founder of the London-based brand String Ting, which sells colourful beaded straps akin to candy sweet necklaces and counts Kendall Jenner and Dua Lipa as fans, alongside Gigi Hadid who favours a blue beaded strap with puffy cloud charms.

At the Dutch brand Ateljé, a chain made from recycled pearls has sold out after fans spotted it in the trailer for season four of Emily in Paris. Topologie , a Hong Kong-founded brand inspired by rock climbing, offers colourful rope versions with quick-release carabiners and flexible bungee clasps, while Etsy features handmade versions spanning everything from giant resin chains to woollen crochet ones.

Of course, luxury brands have been quick to tap into the burgeoning trend, with the high price tags to match. Prada sells a metal chain version with its triangle-shaped logo for £810, Miu Miu has a black-and-white-corded strap for £315, while Brunello Cucinelli offers a discreet suede version for £490.

But besides the handiness of being hands-free there’s another reason this accessory is having a moment in the sun. From bars to buses, social media is full of videos showing phones being snatched out of unsuspecting hands quicker than the time it takes to shout “stop!” According to figures from the Metropolitan police, a phone is stolen in London every six minutes. Just as a belt bag rather than a tote is advised for travelling, a phone strap adds a sense of extra reassurance and may in some cases act as a deterrent to nimble fingers.

“We believe these accessories provide an important security function for our customers. The ability to keep a phone close to the body and have both hands free can help give users greater peace of mind, especially in crowded public settings,” says a spokesperson for Casetify , which started selling custom phone cases in 2011 and recently introduced a dedicated strap category – there are more than 35 options, including slick leather straps in subdued beige shades such as “oat milk”.

But the biggest part of a phone strap’s appeal is, as Steed-Middleton points out, that it is yet another way to add personality to a functional – and much-flaunted – accessory.

Smartphones appear in mirror selfies and are placed centre-stage on everything from work desks to dinner tables. We constantly whip them out to share memes IRL and to jot down podcast suggestions. While plain leather flip phone cases have earned the moniker “boomer cases”, younger generations favour something that offers a little more insight into their identity. Think Polaroid pictures of their dogs or tactile resin covered in bows. Phone straps are a natural augmentation of this type of customisation. If you really want to embrace the spirit, perhaps steer clear of Dior’s £1,050 leather case and gold chain and head instead to TikTok, where DIY tutorials will show you how, with ribbon or string and a bunch of cheap beads, you can make your phone very much your own.

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