When people hear the name Apple, they immediately think of sleek devices that have transformed modern life—iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and the Apple Watch.

The company’s minimalist aesthetic and cutting-edge tech have made it one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

But tucked away in the company’s long and often surprising history is a forgotten chapter that had nothing to do with microchips or software: a short-lived but unforgettable foray into the world of fashion.

In 1986, Apple launched something entirely unexpected—The Apple Collection, a full-blown clothing and accessories line.

At a time when the brand was still carving out its identity and far from the cultural behemoth it would later become, Apple decided to step into retail apparel.

The result was a colorful, eccentric blend of corporate pride and 1980s flair, wrapped in oversized sweatshirts, pastel windbreakers, and boldly patterned tees that could have come straight out of a mall ad campaign from the era.

It wasn’t exactly clear whether Apple was aiming for fashion credibility or simply riding the wave of branded merchandise popular among fans of tech and pop culture.

Either way, The Apple Collection landed somewhere between charmingly offbeat and completely baffling.

Though it didn’t make much of a splash at the time, the once-overlooked line has since become something of a retro novelty.

With fashion trends cycling back to vintage sportswear and graphic-heavy designs, these peculiar pieces have gained newfound appreciation among collectors and style enthusiasts alike.

The clothing itself was a time capsule of 1980s American casualwear: think neon geometric prints, boldly colored polos with popped collars, slouchy tracksuits, and an abundance of dad hats—years before that term would enter the fashion lexicon. Every piece was steeped in the era’s obsession with leisure and logo-driven style.

But what truly set the line apart were the product descriptions found in its catalog, which read more like parody than serious marketing.

Gems like “these polo shirts are perfect for the courts or the club” and “after a rough day windsurfing, the Apple sweatshirt is just the thing” perfectly captured the blend of tech optimism and suburban fantasy.

The collection also featured a strange assortment of accessories.

From coffee mugs and beach towels to umbrellas, wristwatches, and even a branded windsail for the adventurous Apple customer with a sailboat, no corner of leisure was left untouched.

Surprisingly, Apple didn’t go it alone. The company tapped reputable outdoor brands like Patagonia and The North Face to help manufacture some of the apparel, lending a touch of quality to an otherwise eccentric venture.

These collaborations produced items like button-up shirts and poly-cotton vests—pieces that, despite their association with a tech company, held their own against the loud backdrop of color and branding that defined the rest of the collection.

The Apple Sailboard. $1,100.

(Photo credit: Apple Clothing Collection / RHP).