A Bathing Ape (BAPE) is a Japanese streetwear brand founded by Tomoaki "NIGO" Nagao in 1993. Originally a small Harajuku boutique, BAPE grew into one of the most culturally influential streetwear labels of the 2000s-2020s, with a global retail presence and signature sneaker silhouettes that have influenced decades of street fashion.
The Bapesta
The BAPE Sta — commonly called the Bapesta — launched in 2002 as BAPE's take on the Nike Air Force 1 silhouette. Designed with heavy NIGO-era Air Force 1 influence, the Bapesta featured:
- Patent leather panels (often colorful)
- BAPE "shooting star" logo replacing the Swoosh
- "BAPE STA" branding on the tongue
- Aggressive colorblocking
- Full-length patent leather uppers in most iterations
Collaborations and cultural impact
The Bapesta became foundational to 2000s hip-hop fashion — worn by Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and countless others. Notable Bapesta collaborations:
- Bapesta × Pharrell / N.E.R.D. (2003) — iconic pink patent
- Bapesta × Kid Cudi "Kid Cudi Men on the Moon" (2009)
- Bapesta × UNKLE
- Bapesta × Marvel (Spider-Man, Hulk)
- Bapesta × Skybox
NIGO's departure and brand evolution
NIGO sold BAPE to Hong Kong conglomerate I.T Limited in 2011. NIGO departed the brand shortly after to focus on Human Made and eventually joining Kenzo as artistic director. BAPE has continued releasing new Bapesta colorways under its new ownership, with ongoing retail expansion.
Recent collaborations
Modern BAPE continues its collaboration program:
- BAPE × adidas — NMD R1, Ultra Boost, Stan Smith
- BAPE × Nike SB
- BAPE × Reebok Instapump Fury
- BAPE × New Balance
- BAPE × Mitchell & Ness (NBA collaborations)
Retail
BAPE Bapestas retail at $250-$300 for standard colorways. Limited collaborations and anniversary editions retail $300-$450. BAPE operates flagship stores in Tokyo (multiple), New York, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.