Bape new york: What gets lost in the current trends, I worry, is the virtually dynastic history of the brand and its founder, Nigo. Supreme might be the master of the weekly hype machine these days, but it was A Bathing Ape that arguably created the model, and not without a few bumps along the way. So here’s a guide to the history, hype and hysteria of one of streetwear’s first true “lifestyle brands” – A Bathing Ape | bape tiger hoodie.