Apple unveiled its new 2024 Black Unity Collection featuring a new Apple Watch band and face Wednesday, as well as related iPad and iPhone wallpapers. Proceeds from watch band sales help support grantees in the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI).
The company also profiled one of the grantees — Shout Mouse Press — saying it inspires resilience and creativity in the Black community by lifting underrepresented voices in children’s literature.
Apple celebrates Black resilience with new Black Unity Collection
In rolling out its new Black Unity Collection, Apple published an in-depth profile of Washington, D.C.-based children’s literature nonprofit Shout Mouse Press, which received a REJI grant last year. This year Apple will award grants to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Studio Museum in Harlem, Battersea Arts Centre, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Ghetto Film School and the National Museum of African American Music.
“Apple’s support for these organizations is a continuation of REJI grants that resource organizations committed to providing economic, educational and creative opportunities in communities of color around the world,” the company said.
And of course the new collection itself was a big part of the story.
“The new Black Unity Collection introduces new expressions inspired by the resilience and beauty of the Black community,” Apple said. “Blooming flowers and vibrant colors represent Pan-Africanism and symbolize generations working together to address injustice and dismantle systemic barriers.”
Black Unity Collection
Photo: Apple
Here’s how Apple described each element of the collection:
The Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Band features an arrangement of flowers molded abstractly across the band utilizing red, green, and yellow colors. Inspired by the rich cultural diversity of Black communities around the world, Apple used a unique layering process for the flowers to create tiny variations in each band’s design, ensuring no two bands are exactly alike. The pin of the band is coated with a durable diamond-like carbon finish that features an etching of the words “Truth, Power, Solidarity” alongside one of four symbolic flower emblems.
The Unity Bloom Apple Watch face showcases a beautiful floral design that signifies a lasting commitment to the pursuit of a more equitable world. Users can choose between a full-bloom or single-bloom arrangement, and when they raise their wrist, the flowers begin to bloom and fill with vibrant hues. iPhone and iPad users can also show their support with the new Unity Bloom wallpaper for their Lock Screen, which presents an outline of flowers that fill with color when the display is active.
iPhone and iPad users can show their support with the new Unity Bloom wallpaper for their Lock Screen, which presents an outline of flowers that fill with color when the display is active.
Pricing and availability
Photo: Apple
- Black Unity Sport Band, $49 at apple.com and in the Apple Store app now and coming to select Apple Store locations beginning January 23. Available in 41mm or 45mm, and S/M or M/L.
- The Unity Bloom watch face comes out next week. It requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 10.3.
- Unity Bloom iPhone and iPad wallpaper for the Lock Screen is also available next week. Ir requires iPhone Xs or later running iOS 17.3 and iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later) running iPadOS 17.3.
Source: Apple
