A CASE is probably the first purchase a new iPhone owner will make for his or her beloved Apple device, but that first purchase is just the tip of the iceberg, and often expands into a wardrobe of cases fit for any occasion.
Trexta, bstripes and IUVO are three brands that offer iPhone cases off the beaten path for those looking for new ways to clothe their phones. Trexta's elma holster cases ($59.90) are some of the most deceptively well-designed iPhone cases on the market because they provide the usual protection and snug fit, but are also easy to remove and put back on.
bstripes also makes iPhone holsters ($59.95), but its unique appeal is the materials it uses. The base material is Italian fabric, which stands apart from the many leather and synthetic cases out there, and is a nod to the fashionable world of luxury fabric handbags and wallets.
It isn't that easy to slide your iPhone in and out of bstripes cases, especially compared to the Trexta elma, but once you've touched that Italian fabric, you might not care.
You start by choosing the base fabric colour you want for your bstripes holster, and then pick the colour of the central contrasting leather strip. There are 82 combinations to choose from, which should please the most obsessive perfectionist. bstripes also makes cases for other phones such as most BlackBerry models, Nokia's N97, HTC's Magic, Samsung's Omnia HD and LG Arena KM900.
While Trexta's elma holster is unique, the company also makes hard shell snap-on cases, which are common in form but not in design. On May 1, four new ranges of Snap It On cases were launched in Singapore, which snap on to the backs of iPhones. All four series retail at $49.90 per case.
Leather enthusiasts looking for exotic textures should check out the Croco series, which is available in Brown and Cream. It comprises cow leather finished to imitate crocodile hide, which results in a tactile feel that's a far cry from the faux plastic cases that merely have a layer of coloured lacquer sprayed over textured plastic backs.
The Laser series is a gratifyingly low-key combination of dark colours and elaborate patterns. The Flower design has floral motifs laser-etched into the dark leather, while the Weave has an interlocking pattern reminiscent of woven cloth.
If you like tone-on-tone colour schemes, check out the Embroidery series, which is only available in grey-and-black. The two colours are separated by a sinuous line that curves down the back of the case with embroidered leaves fanning out, somewhat like a stylised yin-yang symbol. The Racing Series features stripes running down the centre of the case, with various contrasting colours imitating the racing stripes common in motorsports.
Football has always been popular here, and World Cup fever is a common affliction, so Trexta's Sports series should be a hit. The baseball and basketball designs are cute enough, especially the latter, but the football design will probably sell like hot cakes. Trexta also makes a gorgeous soft leather kechi slide-in case ($139) for Apple's MacBook, MacBook Air and 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops.
World Cup fans who support particular countries might be interested in displaying their allegiances on their iPhones, and IUVO's Soccer-Noble collection ($49.90) features a variety of designs that display the flag colours of various national teams, such as Portugal.
Carbon fibre is a popular aesthetic because of its motorsports associations, but it can result in a somewhat harsh look. IUVO's Carbon Black series ($59.90) blends the carbon fibre look with leather, for the best of both worlds.
All of IUVO's snap-on cases have the unique benefit of wrapping all the way around the sides of iPhones, thereby protecting the iPhone's easily scratched chrome bezel, and also providing some protection for the screen. Another nice consequence of this design feature is improved grip. It's a subtle element, but worth taking note of.
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>> Photos: Funky cases for your iPhones
This article was first published in The Business Times.
