Selling sought after, limited edition clothes and accessories A Bathing Ape is part of a Japanese urban streetwear phenomenon. After 6 months residence at Dover Street Market, the eagerly-anticipated relaunch of BAPE® took place in Soho. Designed by Masamichi Katayama, a futuristic retail space is created using aluminium, stainless steel and neon. LCDs show footage of Lichtensteinesque cartoons to a subtle soundtrack of soft techno. On a backdrop of white, Perspex and mirrored surfaces, vibrant BAPE® products ‘pop’, reminding the customer that this retail experience is about the product as well as the atmosphere.
Written by Rupal Parmar.