Nigo’s BAPE logo is based on the logo from the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. The name ‘Nigo’ comes from a Japanese idiom, ‘Ape in lukewarm water’, which refers to overindulgent behavior, especially among youth. This phrase is a clever reference to the hyper-consumequent nature of youth in the modern era.
NIGO
The BAPE logo is a famous ripoff of a 1968 movie from the Planet of the Apes. Founder Nigo is a fan of pop culture, and based the logo on this film. The name Nigo refers to a Japanese idiom: “A bathing ape in Lukewater”. The phrase describes overindulgence in young people.
Nigo’s rap group, the Teriyaki Boyz, were based in Japan, but gained support from the US rap community. Their Def Jam debut was produced by DJ Premier and they even recorded songs with Kanye West at the peak of his career. While they weren’t as big as BAPE, the group became a sort of outlet for Nigo’s love of rap music.
BAPE
Nigo was an avid fan of 20th-century pop culture. He based the BAPE logo on the classic 1968 film, Planet of the Apes. Nigo also got his name from the Japanese idiom, ‘An ape bathed in lukewarm water,’ which means to indulge excessively. His aversion to mass-produced clothing inspired him to create limited editions of just 50 T-shirts a week.
While the original brand was a Japanese company, a Hong Kong-based firm acquired the brand and rebranded it as AAPE in 2012. AAPE is a Hong Kong-based brand, but borrows from its parent brand, BAPE. The AAPE line features designs by Hong Kong designers, but Nigo has a limited-time joint to create limited-edition pieces. The iconic ape head, camouflage, and shark head are all trademarks of the BAPE brand.
Shark hoodie
Nigo Nagao, the designer behind the popular Bape hoodie, is an avid fan of 20th century pop culture. In fact, he based his BAPE logo on the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. Interestingly, the name ‘Nigo’ actually comes from a Japanese idiom which means ‘An ape bathing in lukewarm water.’ The phrase is a satirical reference to overindulgent behavior in youth.
A typical Bape hoodie features a YKK zipper. This is one of the most widely replicated zips in the world, but its quality is often compromised. Counterfeit zippers often jam or don’t work smoothly, and the hoodie may even break after a few uses.
Uniqlo
The BAPE line is a sub-brand of Uniqlo. The founder of BAPE, Nigo, was inspired by the science fiction film “Planet of the Apes.” The company’s success in Japan led to the launch of several sub-lines, including the AAPE BY A BATHING APE line.
The brand uses the Japanese street fashion trend of word-of-mouth to promote its clothing. NIGO is also the creative director of Uniqlo’s UT line, which includes familiar brands such as Peanuts and Snoopy. The UT line also features Batman and Duff Beer from The Simpsons.
Hiroshi Fujiwara
If you’ve been wondering if Hiroshi Fujiwara is genuinely a fake Bape, you’re not alone. BAPE is actually a Japanese streetwear brand with roots in the ura-Harajuku scene. Its founder and designer, Nigo, was a member of the scene and was friends with most of the heavyweights of the scene. Before starting BAPE, Nigo was a freelance editor and stylist at Undercover and Popeye magazines. He also worked with Sk8thing to develop the clothing line A Bathing Ape.
The brand name was inspired by the 1968 film “Planet of the Apes.” This film featured a society that had fallen into overindulgence and excess. The ape, as a symbol of humankind, was a fitting choice, since it represents humankind in its most “primitive” state.
Gary Aspden
A few years ago, the legendary streetwear brand BAPE was sold to the legendary sportswear company I.T, but Nigo quickly moved on to new endeavors. After a brief stay at the famous sports brand, he launched his own label Human Made, which draws inspiration from the ’60s pop culture movement. The line features items that are often seen in vintage American workwear and has also partnered with the Japanese reproduction specialist Warehouse Japan.
The company was originally based in Japan, with its roots in the ura-Harajuku scene. Nigo was friends with many of the heavyweights of the scene at the time and worked as a stylist and editor for the popular Popeye magazine. He then went on to co-found the clothing line A Bathing Ape with Sk8thing.
