A Bathing Ape, or BAPE, is a brand of expensive, foreign streetwear currently gaining popularity amongst young people in the USA, including many Patriots. It’s imported from Japan, and their highest priced jacket is a whopping $800. It’s undeniably not the cheapest option, so why is it so popular?
Before BAPE became popular in the USA, it was a wholly Japanese brand. According to the founder of the company, Nigo, the name of the brand refers to the upper-class youth of Japan who are said to be “bathing apes,” as they overindulge in luxuries. One such luxury is expensive clothing. A Bathing Ape started off as a one-man operation run by Nigo. He only made a few dozen shirts a week, and he gave half of them away to friends. Although BAPE might …show more content…
Celebrities began to appear wearing BAPE clothing. A Hong-Kong fashion company saw potential in BAPE and bought the company for millions. And A Bathing Ape opened stores in Hong Kong and China. But it was inevitable that Western customers would long for BAPE clothing. So BAPE opened stores in New York and London.
Today, BAPE is still both expensive and exclusive, but it is made in a factory rather than by the labors of one man.
Some BAPE consumers revealed what they knew about the trendy yet enigmatic company.
Ryan Woods, a fan of BAPE, said, “There isn’t an actual BAPE store in Los Angeles, so I got mine from Round Two, a store that sells BAPE.”
Jack Woods said, “I get my BAPE on Fairfax and Melrose. There is one store that has a huge selection of BAPE shirts, sweatshirts, and shoes. They don’t overprice.”
Why exactly would Patriots choose BAPE over cheaper brands? Ryan Woods said he comes back to BAPE because they make “flashy shirts that pop out” and because “the design is really cool.”
However, Jack Woods says he likes it simply because “it’s a style trend right now.” What do customers actually know about the rather mysterious brand itself? Ryan Woods said “I know it’s from Japan, and they make sweatshirts, shorts and pants as well as
Before BAPE became popular in the USA, it was a wholly Japanese brand. According to the founder of the company, Nigo, the name of the brand refers to the upper-class youth of Japan who are said to be “bathing apes,” as they overindulge in luxuries. One such luxury is expensive clothing. A Bathing Ape started off as a one-man operation run by Nigo. He only made a few dozen shirts a week, and he gave half of them away to friends. Although BAPE might …show more content…
Celebrities began to appear wearing BAPE clothing. A Hong-Kong fashion company saw potential in BAPE and bought the company for millions. And A Bathing Ape opened stores in Hong Kong and China. But it was inevitable that Western customers would long for BAPE clothing. So BAPE opened stores in New York and London.
Today, BAPE is still both expensive and exclusive, but it is made in a factory rather than by the labors of one man.
Some BAPE consumers revealed what they knew about the trendy yet enigmatic company.
Ryan Woods, a fan of BAPE, said, “There isn’t an actual BAPE store in Los Angeles, so I got mine from Round Two, a store that sells BAPE.”
Jack Woods said, “I get my BAPE on Fairfax and Melrose. There is one store that has a huge selection of BAPE shirts, sweatshirts, and shoes. They don’t overprice.”
Why exactly would Patriots choose BAPE over cheaper brands? Ryan Woods said he comes back to BAPE because they make “flashy shirts that pop out” and because “the design is really cool.”
However, Jack Woods says he likes it simply because “it’s a style trend right now.” What do customers actually know about the rather mysterious brand itself? Ryan Woods said “I know it’s from Japan, and they make sweatshirts, shorts and pants as well as