A Bathing Ape
| NOWHERE Co. (Bape) |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo |
| Key people | Nigo |
| Industry | Clothing & Shoes |
| Website | http://www.bape.com/ |
A Bathing Ape or BAPE (ア・ベイシング・エイプ A Beishingu Eipu?) is a Japanese clothing company founded by a Nigo (real name Tomoaki Nagao) in 1993[1]. The company specializes in urban and hip-hop fashion, operating stores in Japan including BAPE, BAPE Store, Foot Soldier & the BAPESCLUSIVE store which is located in Aoyama prefecture. The company also operates Bape Cuts hair salon, Bape Café and gallery, Bape Sounds records. There are stores located in Hong Kong, London, New York, 2 locations in Taiwan and a new location in Los Angeles (which is currently under construction.) Nigo also founded the womens clothing lines "APEE" which is the female version of BAPE, and "BAPY" which is the female "couture" clothing line.
History
Originally from Gunma Prefecture, Nigo cites his parents, who were a nurse and a bill board maker respectively, as major influences in the development of his character, although because they were working he spent a lot of time alone with toys .[2] He also credits DJ/Head Porter designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, a generation older and one of Japan's earliest hip-hop DJs, as his business model. [3] His nickname literally means “number two” in Japanese; the MD of Astoarobot, the fashion store, coined the moniker when he noted the physical resemblance to Fujiwara.[4] Nigo cites his early influences as Elvis, The Beatles and hip-hop acts such as Run DMC and Woobens.[2]
After studying fashion editing he worked as an editor for POPEYE magazine. After borrowing four million yen from an acquaintance, who also let him use his shop,[2] he opened “Nowhere”, his first store, on April 1, 1993 in Harajuku, Tokyo. Deciding to start his own brand he named it after the 1968 film, Planet of the Apes. According to Nigo the name "A Bathing Ape" is short for a Japanese saying "bathing in lukewarm water" which is supposed to be a spirtual practice -- a reference to Japanese young generation being spoiled, pampered and too complacent. Meaning that they're comfotable.[2] To expose the brand he gave T-shirts to the lead singer of Cornelius who wore them when performing. For two years he produced 30 to 50 shirts a week, selling half and giving half to friends.[4]
In January, 2005, Nigo and Pharrell Williams, an American producer, singer, rapper, and songwriter, launched the first "Bathing Ape" store in New York.[5] Nigo is also co-owner and head designer of Pharrell's Billionaire Boys and Ice Cream Footwear.[6]
The company produces T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies, parkas,underwear, jackets, denim, and most notably, the "Bape Sta", a shoe resembling the Nike Air Force 1.[7] In 2006 Nigo and N-Kei Enzaki started a record company, "Ape Sounds", with help from James Lavelle, a UK DJ, and the Mo' Wax label. He serves as a producer/director for his CDs, blending Western hip-hop with Asian sounds.[3]
Bape is worn by a variety of celebrities such as: Kanye West, Jin (The Emcee), Omarion and Pharrell. Bape has been mentioned in songs by Soulja Boy (who devoted a song, "Bapes," to the brand) and Clipse.[8][9]
References
- ^ Breaking Down Bapes TheHipHopIcon.com, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2007
- ^ a b c d CNN TalkAsia Transcript 28 February, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
- ^ a b Going BAPE Metropolis, 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2007
- ^ a b Nigo interview Pig Mag 24 May, 2005. Retrieved 21 June, 2007.
- ^ Kanye, Pharrell,Soulja Boy Mos Def Celebrate A Designer With Sole MTV.com Jan 12, 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ Pharrell and Nigo lead a Bape Invasion on NYC BET.com Jan 14, 2005. Retrieved 21 June, 2007.
- ^ Ogunnaike, Lola (2004-12-19). SoHo Runs for Blue and Yellow Sneakers. The New York Times: Fashion & Style. The New York Times Company. Retrieved on 2007-09-22. “[T]he colorful sneakers ... bear more than a passing resemblance to Nike Air Force Ones.”
- ^ http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/album_review/88001.php
- ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16525-we-got-it-4-cheap-vol-1-vol-2
External links
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