These vintage Apple sneakers with the rainbow logo originally made for employees can be yours — if you have $50,000

• Sotheby’s is selling a pair of Apple sneakers which were made for employees in the 1990s.
• The shoes, which are white and feature a vintage rainbow Apple logo, are listed for $50,000.
• Similar pairs were auctioned off in 2017 and 2020.

A pair of vintage Apple sneakers are on sale, but they cost more than what some people make in a year. Would you be willing to pay $50,000 for rare Apple kicks?

The Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers were made for Apple employees in the 1990s. They have never been officially sold by Apple to the public, but a mint-condition pair is currently available courtesy of Sotheby’s. 

The white sneakers have a rainbow Apple logo on the tongue and on the sides. They are a US men’s size 10.5. Photos show the sneakers with white laces, but they also come with a pair of red laces.

Sotheby’s says the shoes were originally given away at a conference in the 1990s. However, this isn’t the first time this type of shoe has hit the market. Similar pairs were also auctioned for thousands of dollars in 2017 and 2020, though they looked a bit different in the soles and logo embroidery than those listed by Sotheby’s.

These shoes are new in the box, but it’s been a while since they were manufactured so they do have some yellowing, and the listing mentions they may fall apart more easily if worn due to their age.

Apple’s evolving fashion

During the late 1980s, Apple did sell clothing and other merchandise under The Apple Collection. Many of these items were decorated with the rainbow Apple logo, along with other bold, kitschy designs, reminiscent of the time period. 

The clothing line was not successful, according to BBC, and was discontinued.

There was also the vintage Apple letterman jacket, a retro black jacket with brown sleeves that featured the rainbow logo. It caught the public’s attention when Drake wore it onstage to promote the Apple Music streaming service. Listings for the jacket were then spotted on eBay for $825 and $3,500.

The vintage apparel of the 20th century was not the only time Apple dipped its toes into fashion. In 2015, Apple famously collaborated with Hermes to create straps and an exclusive Apple Watch model when the device launched. Apple has continued the collaboration in future models of the Apple Watch, with the current models costing between $1,229 and $1,509.

These days, Apple fans can buy officially branded merchandise at a store located near its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple’s campus store located right next to its corporate HQ sells more modern Apple logo t-shirts, similar to what Apple employees wear today in retail stores, along with hats. The shirts are exclusively sold at the campus store in California and aren’t available on Apple’s online store.