What does the name BAPE stand for in Japanese streetwear?

BAPE stands for A Bathing Ape, the English name of the Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water. The label was founded by Nigo in Tokyo in 1993.

The name references the Japanese expression “a bathing ape in lukewarm water,” which suggests someone indulging in comfort or excess. The wording also connects to the brand’s ape imagery, including its familiar ape-head logo and Baby Milo character.

BAPE became known for bold camouflage, limited releases, graphic T-shirts, and distinctive hoodies. Its products helped popularise Japanese streetwear internationally during the 1990s and 2000s.

BAPE is a brand name, not an acronym formed from three separate words. “A Bathing Ape” is the canonical expansion used in English-language references.