BAPE®︎ THINK in Shibuya (Harajuku)

It’s undeniable that A BATHING APE®︎ contributed a great deal to Tokyo‘s popularity as a shopping destination since its inception in the early 1990s. Its distinct Japanese-flavoured streetwear style by founder Tomoaki Nagao a.k.a. Nigo resonated well a young demographic across the planet, and a string of design-led stores opened in the Japanese capital’s leading shopping areas, a large number of cities across the Land of the Rising Sun, and eventually, also across the Far East, Europe and the United States.

It’s a concept store called BAPE®︎ THINK, and it’s situated on the bustling Meiji dori shopping artery in Harajuku where it occupies a modern steel and glass building with large windows. The concept store specifically focuses on the brand’s exclusive BAPE®︎ collections, such as the Mr. BATHING APE®︎ line, and limited edition items. The interior design, created in-house, sees warm and inviting settings with understated furnishings crafted from timber and iron, colourful carpets, and timber ceilings. Mind you, the brand’s well-known Ape Head logo and camouflage motif is featured on the carpets and furnishings. Striking metal staircases, part of the building, are embedded in the design. Anticipating high-profile shoppers, the top floor of BAPE®︎ THINK has been designated as a cozy V.I.P. lounge and comes with a homey setting where they can literally sit back and relax while shopping.