The genius behind the iPhone, Steve Jobs, was synonymous with the black turtle neck, but what happened when he tried to get the rest of Apple's employees to adopt a uniform?
The late Steve Jobs was known for many things, but if not for running Apple from his parents' garage or unveiling the iPhone to the world in 2007, most people tend to think of his signature glasses and mock turtlenecks when they picture the tech mogul.
Following Jobs' tragic passing in 2011, Minnesota-based clothing company St. Croix said that sales of its black turtlenecks doubled. It then offered to donate $20 to the America Cancer Society for every turtleneck it sold.
Jobs became synonymous with mock turtlenecks, and from it, a lifelong friendship with fashion designer Issey Miyake. Unfortunately, not everyone was a fan of Miyake's fashion, with Jobs once being booed off the stage due to a line of uniforms that Miyake had designed.
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According to Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson's book, Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder became enamored with Miyake when he designed ripstop nylon jackets for Sony workers in 1981. This innovative look included sleeves that workers could unzip to transform their uniforms from jackets to vests in warmer weather.
Jobs reportedly loved the idea and thought it stood for 'corporate' bonding, later asking Miyake to create a similar look for Apple employees. Isaacson recalls that Jobs told him he was "booed off the stage" when he returned from Cupertino and showed the idea to employees, but thankfully, it didn't affect his relationship with Miyake.
A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, New Balance shoes, and an Issey Miyake turtleneck became Jobs' very own uniform, with Isaacson writing that the fashion designer made him over 100 sweaters. Jobs apparently said: "That’s what I wear. I have enough to last for the rest of my life."
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With his death at the age of just 56 from pancreatic cancer, he was sadly right that the stack of sweaters would last him for the remainder of his days.
Writing for Bloomberg, Troy Patterson referred to it as an 'extension of his aesthetic aspirations', adding that it was: "Severe but serene, ascetic but cushy. The garment, as Jobs wore it, was the vestment of a secular monk."
Others got on board with the design, like Elizabeth Holmes of the now-defunct Theranos adopting a conveniently Jobs-esque turtleneck look and being accused of copying his style.
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Unofficial uniforms have become a staple of Silicon Valley.
Although he's now swapped out his look, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg was once known for his dark grey Brunello Cucinelli t-shirt, while Jeff Bezos can often be found in Tom Ford tuxedos.
For Miyake, he retired the 'Jobs' turtleneck following the Apple CEO’s death but later introduced the similar 'Semi-Dull T' as a revamped version in 2017.
Unfortunately, Issey Miyake's death in August 2022 means he similarly lives on through his fashion legacy.