A BATHING APE®
Tiger Shark Tee
"Black"
$106$95
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History of BAPE
Founded in Japan in 1993 by NIGO, BAPE or A Bathing Ape, is a storied streetwear brand with legions of fans around the world. The brand helped set the standard for modern street culture as we know it today, with limited edition releases, in-demand collaborations, and a keen eye for attention to product detail.
BAPE’s origins can be traced back to the fashionable Ura-Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan. Looking to stock a clothing brand that could be sold at NOWHERE, the trendy boutique he co-owned with Undercover’s Jun Takahashi, NIGO formed BAPE in 1993. The brand’s DNA was inspired by some of NIGO’s favorite hobbies, like hip-hop, graffiti, art, and more. BAPE’s logo, an ape head, came to be after he and Sk8thing, BAPE’s former lead designer, watched a Planet of the Apes marathon. The BAPE Ape Head was front and center on the brand’s releases from the beginning: T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more. NIGO’s other fascination, Americana, is what inspired the brand’s famous camouflage print.
After quickly catching the attention of discerning streetwear collectors in Japan in the ‘90s, BAPE became popular in the US and Europe in the beginning of the early 2000s. Some of the most notable celebrities to introduce the brand to a mainstream audience includes the Notorious B.I.G., who rocked one of BAPE’s First Camo Tech jackets in a one-off photoshoot in ‘96, Robin Williams, who wore a green First Camo short sleeve shirt in New York City in 2002, and of course Kanye West, Pusha T, and Pharrell, the latter a close friend of NIGO’s.
Thanks to high-profile celebrity co-signs, BAPE was able to establish itself as a player in the up-and-coming streetwear world in the early-to-mid 2000s. It opened a storefront in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood around this time, and eventually expanded to other cities in the US thereafter.
NIGO no longer owns or operates BAPE, but his fingerprints are still very much all over the brand’s seasonal collections and collaborations. No new BAPE drop is without at least several products, whether it be shirts, pants, accessories, or other, featuring its camouflage print and iconic Ape Head.
The very best A Bathing Ape products are in stock and available to ship now at Stadium Goods.
FAQ
When did BAPE start?
BAPE was started in Japan in 1993.
Who founded BAPE?
BAPE was founded by NIGO.
What does BAPE mean?
BAPE is short for A Bathing Ape, the name NIGO gave the brand after being inspired by a Planet of the Apes marathon.
How much do BAPE hoodies cost?
BAPE Hoodies have a retail price between $400 and $500. Pricing varies on the secondary market.