BAPE, short for A Bathing Ape, is a Japanese clothing company that specializes in Japanese street wear. Around since 1993, BAPE makes men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, along with accessories and lifestyle items. They’re an exclusive brand, from what I can tell. (So exclusive I had no idea they existed until yesterday!) Why am I writing about them today? Because they just announced a fun and exclusive collaboration with Mattel’s Barbie brand. Launched yesterday online and in BAPE stores, “Combining Barbie’s signature pink with BAPE’s infamous original designs, the BAPE x Barbie collection pays homage to the iconic insignia that extends to an apparel and accessory collection for women and children.”
Besides creating a line of people sized clothing, BAPE is also dressing Barbie in some of their iconic fashions. Each fashion is paired with a Made To Move Barbie and comes in an exclusive Barbie tote. From the BAPE site, “A limited edition BAPE x Barbie tote, available exclusively from BAPE stores in Japan, will be accompanied by one of three Barbie dolls with BAPE x Barbie fashion packs combine the beloved styles of both brands, where dolls can be dressed head to toe in iconic BAPE items, including the Shark Hoodie, the APE Head Tee, and the BAPE STA
, to create a unique look. Barbiecreates unique styles with shark hoodie, BAPE HEAD T-shirts, BAPE STA and other BAPE iconic items.”
I love the fashions, just not the fact that they’re paired with such basic Made To Move dolls.
As for people sized clothing, “BAPE x Barbie blends BAPEs’ signature camo with Barbie’s classic ponytail silhouette for a unique tribute to the brands’ globally recognized logos. Barbie-inspired pop colors and iconic logos are mixed with BAPE aesthetics for the 17-item collection for women and kids, including jackets, sweatshirts, pants, jewelry and more.” See more on BAPE’s website.
What do you think of this collab between Mattel’s Barbie and clothing brand BAPE? Let us know in the comment area.