Apple Formerly Owned by the Apple Boutique

This brightly painted apple belonged to the Apple Boutique, a fashion store created by the Beatles on December 7, 1967.  

The boutique was one of the first ventures of Apple Corps Limited, a conglomerate of companies including Apple records, Apple Film and Apple Retail, founded by the members of the Beatles. Although everything within Apple Boutique was for sale, the majority of the stock was garments and accessories. It featured clothing designed by The Fool, a creative team comprised of designers who had just produced the costumes for the Beatles’ performance of “All You Need Is Love” on Our World, the first global, live satellite television broadcast, on June 25, 1967.  Prior to opening, The Fool designed a psychedelic patterned mural for the building’s facade and hired art students to paint it, quickly transforming the 18th century building into one of the most recognizable venues in London. Complaints from nearby businesses and the city council lead to the mural being painted over just six months later. The store suffered from frequent shoplifting and inexperienced management. On July 30, 1968, almost eight months after Apple’s opening, the Beatles liquidated the store by giving away its entire stock.