Iconic Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape celebrates its 30th anniversary during the Tokyo Fashion Show

Streetwear brand A Bathing Ape presented its collection for the first time during Spring/Summer Tokyo Fashion Week 2024 in the area of ​​the city where the brand was founded.

Tokyo Fashion Week took place from late August to early September. The brand’s catwalk show took place at Yoyogi No. 2 Gym in Tokyo. About 600 people came to the venue to see the brand present more than 80 looks.

The brand, also known as Bape, was founded in 1993 in Tokyo’s Harajuku district by Nigo, who is currently the artistic director of Kenzo.

“In the late 1990s, ‘Ura-Hara’ (backstreet Harajuku) fashion was really trendy, and Ape was at the heart of that,” says fashion photographer Shoichi Aoki.

The show commemorating the brand’s 30th anniversary was held in collaboration with By R, Rakuten Group’s project to support talented designers and brands. Rakuten has been the title sponsor of the event since 2019.

The show highlighted pieces like hoodies and pants decorated with the brand’s iconic Bape Camo camouflage pattern, oversized boots and blue plaid outfits. It was a testament to the brand’s strong position in the street fashion scene.

Because the brand is popular among professional basketball players in the United States, a model walked the runway in an oversized jacket and shorts while holding a basketball. Another model wore a crop top, highlighting the brand’s range of styles. After the show, fans eagerly took photos.

In recent years, Bape has become more popular among women.

“I have loved the brand’s sneakers and characters for a few years now because they are so cute,” said model Mayu Tsukishiro, who wore a Bape Camo outfit to the show.

Akihiro Fukui, director of brand business department at Nowhere Co., the operating company of the Bape brand and its stores, said: “I would like to express my gratitude as we have collaborated with various artists over the years and become a brand that is loved worldwide .”