Vetements has created a phone case with tech accessory brand Casetify, which has also collaborated with luxury brands including Moncler and Saint Laurent for relatively affordable accessories with a luxury brand name attached. The case is being sold through Casetify and retail partners like Ssense.

This is part of a growing trend in the luxury business of leaning into the accessibility of accessories. While luxury brands rely on the exclusivity of their more expensive apparel offerings that exclusivity is always in conflict with the need to maximise revenue by getting as much product into people’s hands as possible. Accessories offer a good way to do that. Customers who are not affluent enough to be regular Gucci customers and drop more than $1,000 on a jacket can instead save up and get a Gucci belt or a pair of socks. At the same time, the brands are able to sell more product and create relationships with customers who may make further purchases in the future without having to lower any of the prices for their more expensive items — something that luxury brands are loath to do normally.The phone case costs around $250.

Accessories are also often produced by expert third parties, which can manufacture them more affordably. These products are then sold at the same markup as in-house produced items, justified by the brand’s name on it, making accessories incredibly profitable for brands.