A BATHING APE (BAPE) has tapped Los Angeles-based designer and artist Sean Wotherspoon for a vintage-inspired capsule titled “Hidden Gems.” Known for his influence in the vintage scene through his store Round Two and numerous successful sneaker collaborations with names like Nike and adidas, Wotherspoon brings his signature style to this unique collection by breathing new life into archival items.
The “Hidden Gems” collection showcases a blend of Wotherspoon’s creative ideas and BAPE’s iconic elements. The line includes a range of apparel and collectible pieces like a reworked denim jacket, denim pants, a plaid shirt, reversible sweatshirts, t-shirts, and a selection of accessories including a ball cushion, bracelet, rubber band Gashapon ball and a reinterpreted BABY MILO doll.
“We call this collection ‘Hidden Gems’. There are details from the past to the present and details that you may not notice until you actually spend some time with the collection. I’m mixing my favorite vintage styles and techniques with my favorite era of BAPE to bring you the best of both worlds,” Wotherspoon shared.
A notable element of the collection is the “BOTANICAL CAMO,” a unique pattern created specifically for this collaboration. The denim pieces alternate between washed denim and hickory stripes, adorned with iconic APE HEAD, TWO FACE and BAPE BEE logos, alongside Wotherspoon’s SW logo. The plaid shirt, embroidered with the APE HEAD and “Sean” in Kanji, features the SW logo and BAPE BEE on the back.
The crew neck sweatshirts are reversible, offering four styles, namely in red and blue or navy and grey. They feature cracked APE HEAD, GENERAL and TWO FACE prints. The reversible t-shirts, available in red x green or off-white x navy, flip to reveal the same TWO FACE print. Short-sleeved sweatshirts also come available in navy and green and have a sun-faded finish for a vintage look.
BAPE x Sean Wotherspoon’s limited-edition collection is expected to drop this Saturday, May 11, with prices ranging from ¥77,000 – ¥8,800 JPY or approximately $55 – $500 USD — with more information available via BAPE Japan’s official site.
