BAPE kicks off 2025 with a fresh perspective through its Lunar New Year “Year of the Snake” capsule, embracing the snake’s symbolic regrowth and renewal. Drawing inspiration from the Yamata-no-Orochi, a legendary Japanese serpent associated with transformation, the collection reimagines BAPE’s iconic motifs with a bold serpentine twist.
The capsule sheds the brand’s traditional camo in favor of snakeskin-inspired aesthetics, offering an array of graphic tees, denim pieces, hoodies, and mesh caps adorned with foil-printed scales. The classic APE HEAD logo gets a striking makeover, encircled by a snake to embody the mythical creature’s essence. Statement jackets and long-sleeve tees round out the collection, exuding a dynamic yet polished energy.
Yamata no Orochi is a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed Japanese dragon-serpent often associated with regeneration, as it sheds its skin and represents renewal. In classical mythology, the storm god Susanoo ultimately defeats Orochi, extracting the fabled sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi from its tail—a treasure that became one of Japan’s sacred Imperial Regalia.
As part of BAPE’s ongoing “A RISING BAPE” initiative, this collection fuses mythology with modern streetwear, symbolizing a transformative start to the new year. Fans can shop the capsule now via A BATHING APE’s official webstore.
Brands going wild on the year of the snake ahaha 😹