*A Bathing Ape
In spite of straight up outlandish designs and questionable collaborations (Burkenstock), Bape undeniably spawned a new era in urban fashion. Founder/poster-boy/self-professed entity Nigo and his constituents literally went ‘ape shit’ (bad pun intended) juggernauting their way through the street-wear landscape from Harajuku to Los Angeles. After a beer, a cafe and the desecration of Air Forces, what could be the next step for a brand synonymous with doing things that outwardly made little sense? A chronicle of the aforementioned brand and its controversial milestones all encased within a book-word!?
Entitled *A Bathing Ape, the ‘book’ serves more as a visual time line via the hundreds of vibrant ads and pictures of store locations since Bape’s birth in ‘93. From Biggy in a camo jacket, to MIA loungin’ in a pit of plastic bananas and the seemingly endless collaborations (Pepsi, G-shock, DC comics), the aesthetics alone are interesting enough for casual and heads alike. Perhaps the most interesting chunk of stimulus within the book is the short interview with Nigo, in which he offers fascinating insight on Bape’s plight from the perspective of a mastermind.
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