Est. Tokyo x 1993

Created by Tomoaki Nagao (aka Nigo) in the 1993 Harajuku-district of Tokyo - Bape has evolved into one of streetwear's most iconic brands of the last 30 years.

In 1993, Nigo opened the "Nowhere" boutique in Harajuku with Jun Takahashi (UNDERCOVER founder).  However after witnessing the success of UNDERCOVER, Nigo shifted focus from importing brands as a retailer to building out his own brand as a designer.

The brand's full name - A Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water - was inspired by "complacent overindulgence" in Harajuku fashion and youth culture, as referenced by a willingness to remain in cooling bathwater.  Classic Bape motifs draw inspiration from the 1968 "Planet of the Apes" movie (Bape head), absent parenting in Nigo's childhood (Baby Milo), military uniforms (Bape camo), and fighter plane graphics (Shark & Tiger).