When you think of Apple, you’re likely to picture a stream of groundbreaking tech rather than a pair of sneakers.
However, a pair of “ultra-rare” Apple sneakers is now being auctioned by Sotheby’s for $50,000, surpassing the price of any current Apple product.
These white sneakers, featuring the rainbow Apple logo on the tongue and side, were custom-made for Apple employees as a one-time giveaway at a National Sales Conference in the mid-1990s.
“Having never reached the general public, this particular pair of sneakers is one of the most obscure in existence,” Sotheby’s noted in its catalog.
Although it’s unusual for Apple to produce sneakers, the tech brand did release a range of clothing and accessories in 1986 known as “The Apple Collection.”
This collection included items like mugs, umbrellas, bags, keyrings, and even a sailboard, all emblazoned with the rainbow Apple logo.
The previous year, 22,000 Apple shirts were sold by the company.
These products were known as “white label products,” manufactured by third-party companies such as Lamy, Honda, or Braun, but sold under Apple’s branding and logo.
The size 10.5 sneakers are new in their box and come with a pair of red laces, according to Sotheby’s. However, they do show some signs of aging, including yellowing around the midsoles and glue, as well as light marks on the toe boxes.
This pair of sneakers is not the first vintage Apple product to fetch a staggering price at auction in recent months.
A first-edition 2007 iPhone sold for over $190,000 last month, far exceeding the auctioneer’s estimate, while a pair of old Birkenstock sandals owned and worn by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was auctioned for $200,000 in November 2022.
