Nigo founded the streetwear label A Bathing Ape, known for influential sneaker collaborations.
Born Tomoaki Nagao, Nigo launched A Bathing Ape in Japan in 1993. The label became recognized for bold graphics, camouflage patterns, limited production, and a strong connection to music and streetwear communities. Nigo’s interests in sneakers, toys, and popular culture shaped the brand’s collectible approach.
A Bathing Ape, commonly abbreviated as BAPE, later worked with major footwear companies and developed recognizable models such as the Bapesta. The Bapesta’s star-and-lightning-bolt styling made it especially visible in sneaker culture, although it was not a Nike product.
Nigo is sometimes confused with Hiroshi Fujiwara, another influential Japanese streetwear figure and collaborator. Fujiwara founded Fragment Design, while Nigo founded BAPE and later held creative roles at other fashion houses.