A Bathing Ape (BAPE), a prominent streetwear brand founded by Nigo in 1993, is renowned for its distinctive designs and high-quality garments. When it comes to the blanks used for their clothing, BAPE has a specific approach to ensure their products meet the brand’s standards for quality and style.
BAPE primarily uses high-quality fabrics for their apparel, particularly focusing on:
- 100% Cotton: BAPE often uses 100% cotton for their t-shirts and hoodies. This choice of fabric ensures comfort, durability, and excellent print quality. Cotton is breathable and soft, making it ideal for everyday wear.
- Cotton Blends: In some cases, BAPE uses cotton blends that incorporate other materials like polyester. These blends can offer additional durability and flexibility, enhancing the garment’s overall performance.
BAPE does not typically use generic blanks for their clothing. Instead, they are known for their custom-manufactured garments, which are designed to meet their specific quality and design requirements.
- Custom Blanks: When Nigo started BAPE, he initially used Hanes Beefy-T blanks due to their thickness and quality. However, as the brand grew, BAPE began creating their own custom blanks to ensure a unique fit and finish that aligns with their brand identity and standards source.
Printing Techniques
BAPE employs several printing techniques to achieve their iconic designs:
- Screen Printing: This is the most common method used by BAPE for their graphic t-shirts. Screen printing allows for vibrant, durable prints that can withstand multiple washes. The process involves creating a stencil (or screen) and applying layers of ink to the fabric, which is ideal for BAPE’s bold and intricate designs.
- Embroidery: For certain logos and smaller details, BAPE uses embroidery. This technique involves stitching the design directly onto the fabric, providing a textured and durable finish that adds a premium touch to the garments.
Design and Customization
BAPE’s commitment to quality and uniqueness is evident in their approach to design and customization:
- Unique Patterns and Camouflage: BAPE is famous for its unique camouflage patterns and other distinctive designs. These patterns are often integrated into the fabric during the manufacturing process, ensuring they are a permanent part of the garment rather than an afterthought.
- Attention to Detail: BAPE ensures meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of their clothing, from the stitching and fabric quality to the placement of prints and logos. This attention to detail helps maintain the brand’s reputation for high-quality, stylish apparel.
Conclusion
In summary, BAPE does not rely on generic blanks but instead focuses on custom-manufactured garments that meet their high standards for quality and design. By using premium fabrics like 100% cotton and employing techniques such as screen printing and embroidery, BAPE ensures that their products are both stylish and durable. This commitment to quality and uniqueness has helped BAPE maintain its status as a leading name in the streetwear industry.