Issey Miyake was the designer of the black turtlenecks closely associated with Steve Jobs’s public image.
Jobs developed his signature uniform after seeing uniforms created by Miyake for Sony employees. He asked Miyake to make a similar garment for Apple, and Miyake reportedly produced hundreds of black turtlenecks for him.
The clothing choice became part of Jobs’s presentation style, particularly during Apple product launches. Wearing nearly identical outfits reduced a visible daily decision and created a recognizable visual identity that audiences came to associate with Apple’s product announcements.
The turtlenecks were not an Apple uniform for employees, and Miyake was not an Apple executive. He was a Japanese fashion designer known for innovative clothing, including designs that combined practicality with distinctive construction.