BAYC x BAPE Unveil Streetwear Collaboration

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) has just announced its latest collaboration with the iconic Japanese streetwear brand BAPE in a surprising move. This morning, the Web3 giant, known as Yuga Labs’ flagship collection, took to X (formely Twitter) to reveal the news, leaving the crypto Twitter buzzing with anticipation to know more.

The tweet, which came from the official Bored Ape Yacht Club Twitter account (@boredapeyc), vaguely read, “Been a fan since way back.” Along with an illustrated photo revealing an opened closet full of Hawaiian-themed shirts and in the middle, a white t-shirt with the BAPE logo and a Bored Ape.

“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®.

The two brands shared in a statement that the collection will feature an extremely limited quantity that will be available only to the community. The collection debuts on November 4 in Hong Kong at ApeFest, BAYC’s global event. Initially, it will be available to the BAYC community, with token-gated online access. Later, BAPETAVERSE members get exclusive access. In December, the general public can buy it at BAPE’s official store and website.

Bored Ape Yacht Club’s signature ape NFTs have captured the imaginations of art collectors and cryptocurrency enthusiasts alike. By joining forces with BAPE, an iconic streetwear brand known for its distinctive ape motif, the collaboration seems destined to create an interesting fusion.

BAPE, founded in 1993, has been an influential player in streetwear for decades. BAPE®, which stands for “A Bathing Ape,” was founded by fashion designer Nigo and eventually began selling footwear in the US in 2005. It’s best known for its signature camouflage print and ape head logo, which still remain a crucial element of the brand and its design ethos. 

“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.”

The announcement has already ignited a frenzy of excitement among the Bored Ape Yacht Club community and streetwear enthusiasts. The tweet has garnered thousands of likes and retweets in a matter of hours, with fans eagerly speculating about what the capsule collection might entail. The official BAPE X account has also shared the announcement, stating, ” Apes Together Strong.”

“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.”

In August BAPE celebrated its 30th anniversary with the launch of a limited edition sneaker release, Forum 84 BAPE Low Triple-White sneaker, in collaboration with adidas Originals. The sneakers were dropped as NFTs and represented the first-ever digital asset auction for the brand. 

This article was updated on September 26th, 2023 after an official press release on the collaboration was shared by Yuga Labs.