Over the next two years Nigo stayed with the company to assist with the transition, launching his new vintage-inspired label Human Made and taking on a new role as Creative Director of Uniqlo’s ‘UT’ T-shirt line. The late ’90s to early ’00s are generally cited as the golden era of BAPE, with product rapidly selling out in Japan and fashion-savvy figures like The Notorious B.I.G. giving the brand some healthy kudos in hip-hop culture. In the early ’00s Nigo was introduced to Pharrell Williams through Jacob the Jeweller, who noted the two’s similar tastes in jewelry commissions. After a few years working as an editor and stylist at Popeye magazine, Nigo opened up his store ‘Nowhere’ with Jun Takahashi of Undercover, and shortly after worked with Sk8thing to launch his own clothing brand, A Bathing Ape — or BAPE.
Adidas Originals X BAPE Unveil Special Edition Stan Smith Sneakers - DSCENE MAGAZINE
Adidas Originals X BAPE Unveil Special Edition Stan Smith Sneakers.
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
A BATHING APE®
NOWHERE was a huge success with the kids of Harajuku, filling a cultural void and inspiring NIGO to start BAPE the very same year. Then, in 2007, Soulja Boy's infamous "Crank Dat" video with the statement "I got me some Bathin' Ape" was released. This video prominently featured Soulja Boy's own Bapestas, albeit their veracity has been questioned. That was it; BAPE officially entered the cultural zeitgeist and ascended to the throne as the ultimate example of ostentatious, showy streetwear.
BAPE® MERCHANDISE
The Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Bape Edition: Technology Meets Street Fashions - Display Daily
The Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED Bape Edition: Technology Meets Street Fashions.
Posted: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Once-coveted rarities like BAPE shark hoodies and insulated snow jackets have become mainstay pieces every season, and the brand's iconic camo is now one of the most prolific graphics of contemporary street style. To many of the older heads, the BAPE of today has little in common with its roots, but whether that’s a good or bad thing is, frankly, a matter of perspective. In 2017, it’s still a brand defined by its young, consumptive audience’s voracious appetite for anything on offer, so in many ways it’s the same as it ever was.
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BAPE, along with other brands like Neighborhood and Hysteric Glamour, helped shape the "Urahara" style of the '90s. In 2013, Nigo achieved what might be any pop-art inspired creative’s dream when he was hired as Creative Director for Uniqlo’s graphic t-shirt line, UT. Far from days of printing 50 t-shirts a week and working on a shoestring budget, he’s now the head honcho of one of the most broadly accessible clothing brands on the planet. These low top BAPE COURT STA designs come in a more muted Mist Grey / Royal Purple color way, or the light and fresh Light Grey / Cream. The grey and purple design has a suede upper, while the grey and cream is done in leather, each hot pressed with the ABC CAMO pattern, and with the BAPE signature logo embroidered into the back heel of the midsole. Not only the pattern, but the unique use of tone-on-tone blocking and color contrasts really elevates this design into something as yet unseen in the BAPE STA™ collections.
The expression is used to describe someone who overindulges, like soaking in a bath till the water isn't even hot anymore, thus it was almost a playful allusion to the same hyper-consumptive youth who would later serve as the foundation of his business. Like many Japanese streetwear legends, BAPE's origins can be traced back to the ura-Harajuku scene of the early '90s. Nigo, after working as an editor and stylist at Popeye magazine, established his store 'Nowhere' with Jun Takahashi of Undercover, and then partnered with Sk8thing to start his own clothing brand, A Bathing Ape. While Supreme might dominate the weekly hype now, it's important to remember that it was A Bathing Ape that set the foundation for the model. This guide aims to take you through the history, hype, and frenzy surrounding one of the earliest "lifestyle brands" in streetwear – A Bathing Ape. Rounding out the offering is a graphic tee design that includes the APE HEAD once again surrounded by a Japanese cloud pattern, Japanese characters and the brand’s name.
Highlighting the power and beauty of BAPE® , Wong puts his own special spin on the classic camo pattern. While rocking BAPE®”, Wong transforms every element of the pattern into faces with big eyes. Available for pre-order, BAPE® HOME pieces from the BAPE® x FABRICK x KARIMOKU & BAPE® x TENDO collaboration include the ABC camouflage sofas, chairs, storage boxes, coffee tables, and daily items. Embracing the concept of “trends originating from life”, a visual spectacle of BAPE®’s iconic patterns are made into everyday furnishings, adding the quintessential street aesthetic to any home.
CLASSICS AND UNVEIL NEW DESIGNS
So to celebrate its 31st anniversary, the brand is releasing a special tee capsule. The bag has an impactful design with the SHARK eyes on the flap and the SHARK mouth on the front of the bag made of leather. The collection will feature six items that incorporate the identities of both brands.
BAPE X GOD SELECTION XXX SHARK FULL ZIP HOODIE MENS
Like most of the Japanese streetwear icons, BAPE's roots can be traced back to the ura-Harajuku scene of the early ’90s. Most of today’s heavyweights — Shin Takazawa of Neighborhood, Tetsu Nishiyama of WTaps, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Sk8thing and so on — were actually a group of friends in the same scene, each doing their own thing and helping each other out along the way. In times like these, you’d be totally forgiven for assuming this is the way things had always been. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t some “old man yells at cloud”-esque ‘you kids don’t know how good you’ve got it’ rant. In an age where music is virtually free and everything else is little more than a click away on the internet, the youth have turned their attentions (and their wallets) to fashion and clothes as the means of expressing themselves.
For someone new to the scene, it might appear as if this has always been the case. However, to comprehend the seismic changes the streetwear industry has undergone, one only needs to remember that just a few years ago, Supreme London had a select loyal clientele, in stark contrast to the daily queues seen today. Instead, it highlights how streetwear has transformed, becoming more popular than ever. In a time where music is essentially free and everything else is just a click away on the internet, youth have focused their attention (and their money) on fashion and clothing as a means of self-expression. Everyone from your 6-year-old cousin and to your law firm partner are becoming style conscious and in every major city across the globe you’re likely to see kids sporting box logos. If you're looking to shop the biggest range of BAPE in New Zealand and Australia, Prior Store is the place to go.
This also led to the famous "ape" logo being featured on much of the brand's clothing. In late-2014, Nigo set streetwear heads and pop culture collectors alike drooling with the announcement of an auction of his collection, presented in association with famed auction house Sotheby’s. Original Batman toys were offered alongside custom Goyard luggage, luxury watches, BAPE camo couches, even a Gucci Christmas tree designed by Tom Ford.
The TYPE 9 BAPEX® represents the contemporary adaptation of the high-end sports wristwatch. The TYPE 9 BAPEX® is equipped with a 21-jewel automatic mechanical movement, positioning it as a daily timepiece for enthusiasts. The bezel is meticulously crafted from 316L stainless steel, while the watch face is enhanced with scratch-resistant sapphire.
Focusing on the low-cut take of the ever-green BAPE STA™, the BAPE STA™ OS features a premium calf leather upper held together by the bicolor upper in three colorways. Kicking off BAPE STA™ 2024 Spring/Summer Collection, BAPE® is pleased to announce a fresh remake on the classic BAPE STA™ and present the brand-new silhouette - BAPE STA™ OS. This latest creation from BAPE STA™ line-up is not just a shoe; it's a narrative of creativity, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Since the mid-2000s, a BAPE-curated G-SHOCK has become a seasonal mainstay, with various tweaks to the shape and a multitude of face designs, even getting the iced-out treatment as a one-off for Williams courtesy of Jacob the Jeweler in 2009. Among the innovative displays at Milan Design Week, there was also an electric presentation by the luxury automaker Lexus. Last weekend, Lexus invited visitors to experience its new two-part exhibition celebrating the brand’s newest electric vehicle concept, the Lexus LF-ZC.
Tokyo is the home of Hello Kitty, anime, collectible dolls and kawaii culture, and there’s unquestionably an element of that in that splodgy, super-smooth motif. It makes military seem less serious, and it makes irreverence seem more dignified. What gets lost in the current trends, I worry, is the virtually dynastic history of the brand and its founder, Nigo. Supreme might be the master of the weekly hype machine these days, but it was A Bathing Ape that arguably created the model, and not without a few bumps along the way.
Katayama was given free reign over the design and revolutionized merchandising techniques to create something reminiscent of an art gallery. BAPE is a brand known for its bold visuals, and one of its core styles, the shark parka, is just as notorious for its unusual graphic placement. The full-zip hoodie, which does right up to conceal the wearer's face, features a shark eye and teeth appliqué on the front of the hood. A BAPE-head favorite, the shark parka was most famously seen on Williams in the video for Fabolous’s “Tit 4 Tat” in 2004, the same year as the hoodie’s release.
They all come with adjustable lace holes, on an upper made of soft, comfortable suede, set on a gum sole, decorated with a rubber “93” badge and leather STA motif. And, of course, each comes with the signature BAPE® logo embroidered onto the back heel. In the 2000s, BAPE’s mythology expanded to include NIGO’s very own former abode, known as the BAPE HOUSE.
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