Two new PITAKA cases for the iPhone 17 Pro have landed recently, and they couldn’t be more different in inspiration — one draws from the natural world, the other from the halls of academia. Both, however, share the same core DNA that PITAKA fans have come to expect: thin, light, and well-made.
Breath of Veins – Earth Day Collection
The Breath of Veins case is PITAKA’s Earth Day release, and its design is inspired by the vein patterns found on begonia leaves. Each colour in the collection reflects what PITAKA describes as “the untamed rhythm of natural growth,” and looking at it up close, the woven aramid fibre does bear a striking resemblance to organic textures. It’s a subtle effect rather than a loud statement, which suits the case well.
The collection comes in three different colours: Burning Orange, Sprout Surge, and Dive Green. My samples here are the Burning Orange and Sprout Surge:
Beyond the aesthetics, PITAKA has partnered with Tree-Nation — a UN Environment Programme-recognised reforestation platform that has planted over 46 million trees across 70+ projects since 2006 — to plant a mangrove tree along Kenya’s Swahili Coast for every Breath of Veins case sold. Each case also comes with a QR code that lets you register a digital tree-planting certificate with your serial number.
The case itself is built from aerospace-grade aramid fibre and measures just 1.2mm thick at approximately 25g. MagSafe compatibility is built in, and the refined textured finish gives the iPhone 17 Pro a much more secure grip compared to holding the bare glass. This is something anyone who’s ever fumbled their phone will appreciate. The camera bump is protected thanks to a raised bezel, while the physical buttons remain fully exposed — no mushy, case-covered presses here. You get the original haptic feedback as Apple intended.
Scratch resistance and resistance to discolouration are also part of the package, which matters for aramid fibre cases. The PITAKA cases I’ve used in the past (the Sunset Moment case) have held up well over time, and this one should be no different.
Harvard University Collection – “In the Weave, We Seek Truth”
The Harvard University collection takes a completely different direction. PITAKA holds a global official licence from Harvard, and the design is centred on the university’s motto — Veritas, meaning truth. The woven structure uses a Harvard Crimson colour palette with subtle tonal variations that echo the rhythm and geometry of Harvard’s historic brick architecture. It’s restrained and intentional rather than slapping a logo across the back.
At 0.88mm thick and approximately 20g, this one is even slimmer than the Breath of Veins case — barely there in the hand, yet sturdy when you actually grip the phone. Like the Earth Day case, it uses aerospace-grade aramid fibre and is fully MagSafe compatible. The Camera Control Button is handled by PITAKA’s PitaTap system: a hidden capacitive layer sits beneath the aramid fibre, allowing you to tap and slide the button without any change in texture or response. It works seamlessly and doesn’t compromise the slim profile.
The Harvard case also features exposed physical buttons, which keeps the tactile experience consistent with the bare phone. Both collections share this approach, and it’s the right call — case-covered buttons never feel as satisfying.
In terms of durability, the aramid fibre construction is scratch-resistant and built to last. PITAKA offers a two-month warranty on both cases.
Camera protection is present on both, with raised bezels preventing the lenses from making direct contact with flat surfaces. Button openings are left fully exposed on both, preserving the original feel. They’re also both MagSafe compatible and wireless charging friendly, so your existing accessories work without issue.
The build quality feels solid and premium across both. Aramid fibre has a luxurious quality to it that’s hard to describe without handling one – silky-smooth yet textured, light yet reassuring. These don’t feel like cases you’ll replace in a few months. Honestly, I’ve always used a single PITAKA case on every new iPhone I bought and it lasted until the next iPhone purchase the following year.
There are many other selections of cases over at PITAKA website if these are not your favourites. Make sure to check them out.
