AAPE, A Bathing Ape Alternative You Might Not Know About

Despite the fact legendary designer NIGO made his departure from A Bathing Ape back in 2013, the Japanese streetwear imprint has seemingly grown from strength to strength and still boasts loyal droves of followers to this day. While your average streetwear fan will likely know about BAPE and all of its relevant signatures, few might know about one of its younger subsidiary by the name of AAPE.

AAPE By A Bathing Ape launched back in the spring/summer of 2012 as a diffusion line to regular BAPE. With an eye on the young menswear market, AAPE gradually grew to somewhat rival its bigger brother, just in an almost more mainstream market.

So what are the key differences between BAPE and AAPE? Well, while BAPE concentrates on its classic camouflage, shark head, tiger head and APE head motifs, AAPE instead chooses to embrace musical influences, army styles and Japan's love for baseball. Because of this, AAPE clothing often showcases sportswear styles such as jerseys dressed in military-style camos complete with varsity logos, simultaneously blending each influence with one and another.

It's also worth noting that both BAPE and AAPE have different logo mascots. For instance, while BAPE's head of an ape logo holds certain weight and recognisability within the streetwear sphere, AAPE's MOONFACE logo is arguable more subtle with its circular design and muted tones.

Another key difference we have is the price. While A Bathing Ape's mainline selection of clothing can seriously put a dent in your bank account, AAPE is usually a more affordable option when it comes to everything from T-Shirts all the way to larger outerwear pieces. This means you're not going to be breaking the bank to get your hands on quality Japanese streetwear styles.

AAPE in general is far more accessible than its mainline counterpart, meaning large retailers such as ASOS stock a vast selection of pieces to cater to all tastes. To check out the full AAPE line on ASOS, click here!