For fashion brands, though, guardian design is present in isolated details rather than a coherent offer. Maggioni sees accessories as the most immediate on-ramp. Phone slings, wristlets, belt bags and crossbody pouches are already familiar; what’s missing is a systematic approach to security. “We’re looking at things like lockdown hardware and RFID-blocking pockets — simple additions that can prevent card cloning and integrate easily into existing bag shapes,” she says.
Casetify offers one such model. The phone case brand has built a sizable business around phone straps and slings that sit at the intersection of lifestyle and security. Their strategy is to treat straps as fashion objects — metal chains, beaded wristlets, curated colorways — rather than simply safety gear. “Consumers don’t want to choose between a secure product and a stylish one, they expect both,” says a spokesperson for the brand.
When it comes to apparel, the interesting thing is how accessories and clothing talk to each other, Maggioni adds. “If you have a phone sling hanging from your neck, why not work with your apparel designer so there’s a front pocket built to accommodate the sling? The sling stops being just a wristlet, it’s integrated with how your clothes function.”
Even classic pieces offer openings. “Take a leather jacket,” she suggests. “You know the button or epaulette on the shoulder? If you reinforce it, you can actually hook your bag there and close it. We’re not saying reinvent the wheel, we’re saying: look at your essentials and think about how you can supercharge them. Something as simple as reinforcing that area keeps your bag from being snatched — you just have to be clever in how you engineer it.”
Opportunity in the challenge
For designers, the challenge is leaning into these real-world needs while upholding a brand’s DNA. Johanna Parv, for example, comes from a background in tailoring and high fashion, but her designs are shaped by the realities of women moving through the city — particularly cyclists carrying bags, phones and laptops, all while looking put together. “My thinking is how could we take the traditional understanding of how women want to look but adapt it for movement,” Parv told Vogue Business. The brand’s jackets and pants feature discreet, strategically placed pockets for securing phones or handbags; and dresses are cut from soft jersey or water-resistant fabrics that allow the wearer to run if they need to.
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