Yuga Labs, the organization responsible for prominent Web3 ventures such as Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, Meebits, and 10KTF, has established a collaborative alliance with A BATHING APE (BAPE), a trailblazer in the streetwear realm. With its origins in Harajuku, Japan, dating back to 1993, BAPE has played a foundational role in shaping Japanese street fashion for more than three decades.
BAPE is a Japanese streetwear brand that has helped to introduce Japanese fashion culture to the world. It is known for its iconic designs, such as the “APE HEAD,” “BAPE CAMO,” and “BABY MILO.” This is the first time that BAPE has partnered with Yuga Labs, and the result is a unique collection of apparel and accessories that draw inspiration from BAPE’s rich design history.
The BAYC x BAPE collection will be released globally on November 4 in Hong Kong at ApeFest, the Bored Ape Yacht Club’s annual event. This collaboration celebrates the exclusivity and community that are at the heart of streetwear culture. Just like BAPE used to sell t-shirts only to a close-knit group of friends, the collection will first be available to Bored Ape Yacht Club members.
Bored Ape Yacht Club members will be the first to get their hands on the BAYC x BAPE collection, with the option to purchase items in person at ApeFest or online through a token-based access system. Next in line will be BAPETAVERSE members, who will have exclusive online access to the collection. Finally, the collection will be released to the general public in December via BAPE STORE and BAPE.COM.
“As Fashion goes hand-in-hand with web3, particularly in the current times, where the two have the power to impact each other almost instantaneously, we are thrilled to present this groundbreaking collaboration with Yuga Labs,” said Thomas Hui, Chief Operating Officer of BAPE®.
“This is much more than two brands coming together just because they have ‘Ape’ in their names,” added Michael Ghory, Yuga Labs’ new Vice President of Apparel and Lifestyle. “Our partnership was built on genuine, mutual respect and a dedication to our communities, who are tired of the everywhere-ness of recent sneaker and apparel collaborations. We are excited to offer exclusive early access to our BAYC members and the BAPE® Heads, and welcome the world to ape in with our later global public release.”
Starting on November 5th, the BAYC x BAPE collection will also be available to a wider audience during the Yacht Club Open House. This groundbreaking event is the first time that Bored Ape Yacht Club will host a public experience that is open to everyone, including creators, collectors, and those who are curious about the crypto space. Ticket holders to the Yacht Club Open House will have the chance to purchase items from the limited-edition collection, while supplies last.
“It may come as no surprise that we’re fans,” said Greg Solano, Co-Founder of Yuga Labs, “and we know a lot of members of the Bored Ape Yacht Club are too. BAYC collaborating with BAPE on a limited physical collection feels like the most natural thing in the world.”
The collaboration between Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club and the legendary Japanese streetwear brand BAPE is a groundbreaking moment for both the fashion and Web3 industries. By combining BAPE’s enduring influence in streetwear with Yuga Labs’ leadership in Web3 and the crypto community, this partnership represents a new era of collaboration and innovation between traditional and digital cultures.
