# A Bathing Ape

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Japanese fashion brand

A Bathing Ape Type Subsidiary Industry Fashion Genre Streetwear Founded 1993; 33 years ago (1993) in Ura-Harajuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan Founder Nigo Headquarters Hong Kong Owner I.T Group Website bape.com

Bape Store [Harajuku](/source/Harajuku), [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo)

BAPE store deployed in [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) (2006–2011)

**A Bathing Ape** ([Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): ア・ベイシング・エイプ, [Hepburn](/source/Hepburn_romanization): *A beishingu eipu*), also known as **BAPE**, is a Japanese fashion [brand](/source/Brand) founded by [Nigo](/source/Nigo) (Tomoaki Nagao) in [Ura-Harajuku](/source/Ura-Harajuku) in 1993.[1][2] The brand specializes in men's, women's and children's lifestyle and street wear, running 19 stores in [Japan](/source/Japan), including Bape Stores, Bape Pirate Stores, Bape Kids Stores, Bapexclusive [Aoyama](/source/Aoyama%2C_Tokyo), and Bapexclusive [Kyoto](/source/Kyoto). The Kyoto store also includes Bape Gallery, a space used for various events and art shows sponsored by Bape. The brand also has stores in [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong), [Taipei](/source/Taipei), [Beijing](/source/Beijing), and elsewhere.[3]

The company previously operated (Busy Work Shop), Bape Cuts hair salon, Bape Café, BABY MILO and The cay Soldier. Nigo also founded the secondary lines **AAPE** (by A Bathing Ape) and **BAPY** (Busy Working Lady). In 2011, the company was sold to Hong Kong fashion conglomerate [I.T](/source/I.T) Group for about $2.8 million. Nigo left the brand in 2013.[1]

## History

[Nigo](/source/Nigo), founder, former owner, and [Teriyaki Boyz](/source/Teriyaki_Boyz) member, cites his mother and father, who were a nurse and a billboard maker, respectively, as major influences in the development of his character, though because they both worked, he spent a lot of time alone with toys.[4] He also credits DJ/fashion guru [Hiroshi Fujiwara](/source/Hiroshi_Fujiwara) as his business model. His nickname means "number two" in Japanese; the MD of Astoarobot, the fashion store, coined the moniker when he noted the physical resemblance to Fujiwara.[5] Nigo cites his early influences as [Elvis](/source/Elvis_Presley), [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) and [hip-hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) acts such as [Beastie Boys](/source/Beastie_Boys) and [Run-DMC](/source/Run-DMC).[4]

After studying fashion editing at Bunka Fashion college, he worked as an editor and a stylist for [*Popeye* magazine](/source/Popeye_(magazine)). After borrowing four million yen from an acquaintance, who also let him use his shop,[4] he opened "Nowhere", his first store, along with [Jun Takahashi](/source/Jun_Takahashi) of Undercover, on April 1, 1993, in [Ura-Harajuku](/source/Ura-Harajuku).[6] Deciding to start his own brand, he named it after the 1968 film *[Planet of the Apes](/source/Planet_of_the_Apes_(1968_film))*. According to Nigo, the name "BAPE" is a reference to "A Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water" (ぬるま湯に浸かった猿, *Nurumayu ni tsukatta saru*). Japanese people typically have daily baths in water at temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F). As such, to bathe in lukewarm water is to complacently overindulge as it implies you have stayed in the bath for so long the water has become cold. This is an ironic reference to the lazy opulence of the younger generation of Japanese, the brand's own customers.[4] To promote the brand he gave T-shirts to the musician [Cornelius](/source/Cornelius_(musician)) and Japanese hip-hop group [Scha Dara Parr](/source/Scha_Dara_Parr) who wore them when performing. For two years he produced 30 to 50 shirts a week, selling half and giving half to friends. In 1997, Nigo released his debut album *Ape Sounds* under [Mo'Wax](/source/Mo'Wax), with DJ/Producer [James Lavelle](/source/James_Lavelle) of [UNKLE](/source/Unkle).[5] Nigo is also co-owner and head designer of [Pharrell Williams](/source/Pharrell_Williams)' clothes brands [Billionaire Boys Club](/source/Billionaire_Boys_Club_(clothing)) and Ice Cream.[7]

On February 1, 2011, it was announced that A Bathing Ape had been sold to [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) fashion conglomerate [I.T](/source/I.T) Group. I.T purchased a 90.27% stake in A Bathing Ape. In a transaction encompassing [HK$](/source/HK%24)21,850,000 (approx. [US$](/source/US%24)2.8 million), I.T purchased a total of 668 shares. Exact details regarding the creative future and expansion of A Bathing Ape are unknown; however, A Bathing Ape founder Nigo remained on board as the Creative Director for the next two years.[8]

Bape is a popular [Japanese street fashion](/source/Japanese_street_fashion) brand and with many celebrities appearing in magazines and catalogs wearing Bape's clothing.[9]

## Design

Bape frequently collaborates with other brands and features characters from popular media such as [SpongeBob SquarePants](/source/SpongeBob_SquarePants_(character)), [Marvel](/source/Marvel_Comics) comics characters, [Nintendo](/source/Nintendo), [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics), and [Hello Kitty](/source/Hello_Kitty) and the [Sanrio](/source/Sanrio) Family.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] These designs are used throughout the Bathing Ape range, on goodies, accessories, hoodies, jackets, T-shirts and shoes. A Bathing Ape has also collaborated with many other famous brands, including [Pepsi](/source/Pepsi), [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola), and [Rimowa](/source/Rimowa),[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] as well as artists such as [Biggie Smalls](/source/Biggie_Smalls), [Wiz Khalifa](/source/Wiz_Khalifa), and the [Beastie Boys](/source/Beastie_Boys).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

On December 11, 2015, A Bathing Ape revealed that [Chris Brown](/source/Chris_Brown) would become the face of the brand's high end range, BAPE Black Label. Which was a follow-up to the brand's inaugural celebrity partnership fronted by fellow artist [Travis Scott](/source/Travis_Scott).

In late 2018, the firm announced that it will produce a tie-in fashion line based on the [Disney](/source/Disney) animated film *[Ralph Breaks the Internet](/source/Ralph_Breaks_the_Internet)*, marking this as the first time BAPE has directly partnered with Disney.[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nigo_departure_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nigo_departure_1-1) ["A Bathing Ape owner exploring dual track exit plan"](https://community.ionanalytics.com/a-bathing-ape-owner-exploring-dual-track-exit-plan). *ION Analytics Community*. 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-04-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TheHipHopIcon_2-0)** [Breaking Down Bapes](http://thehiphopicon.com/fashion.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120826024721/http://thehiphopicon.com/fashion.htm) 2012-08-26 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) TheHipHopIcon.com, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bape.com_3-0)** [\[1\]](http://www.bapeonline.com/store-locator.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200212083230/https://www.bapeonline.com/store-locator.html) 2020-02-12 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) bape.com, 2022. Retrieved Feb 24, 2022

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-talkasia_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-talkasia_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-talkasia_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-talkasia_4-3) [CNN TalkAsia](http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/28/talkasia.nigo.script/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160610181752/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/28/talkasia.nigo.script/index.html) 2016-06-10 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Transcript 28 February 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pig_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pig_5-1) [Nigo interview](http://pigmag.com/it/2005/05/24/nigo-english/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070712160357/http://pigmag.com/it/2005/05/24/nigo-english/) July 12, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Pig Mag 24 May 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["NIGO® & Jun Takahashi: NOWHERE"](https://hypebeast.com/2009/9/interview-nigo-jun-takahashi). *HYPEBEAST*. 28 September 2009. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190801232931/https://hypebeast.com/2009/9/interview-nigo-jun-takahashi) from the original on 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Recognize Fresh! Billionaire Boys Club"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160904184145/http://www.bet.com/news/fashion-and-beauty/photos/2010/11/lifestylephotosrecognizefreshbbc.photo1.html#flipbook). BET. Archived from [the original](http://www.bet.com/news/fashion-and-beauty/photos/2010/11/lifestylephotosrecognizefreshbbc.photo1.html#flipbook) on 2016-09-04. Retrieved 2011-04-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["I.T Hong Kong Purchase a 90% Financial Stake in A Bathing Ape"](http://hypebeast.com/2011/02/i-t-hong-kong-purchase-a-90-financial-stake-in-a-bathing-ape/). *HYPEBEAST*. February 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160903185349/http://hypebeast.com/2011/02/i-t-hong-kong-purchase-a-90-financial-stake-in-a-bathing-ape) from the original on 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2011-02-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Style: Planet of a Bathing Ape"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080714205402/http://www.kansaiscene.com/2003_10/html/style.shtml). *Kansai Scene Magazine*. October 2003. Archived from [the original](http://www.kansaiscene.com/2003_10/html/style.shtml) on July 14, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Higgins, Keenan (30 November 2018). ["DISNEY & BAPE COME TOGETHER FOR A 'RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET' COLLAB"](http://thesource.com/2018/11/30/bape-disney-ralph-breaks-the-internet-collaboration/). *TheSource*. Retrieved 5 December 2018.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.bape.com)

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Academics CiNii

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [A Bathing Ape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bathing_Ape) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bathing_Ape?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.