Nigo

NIGO, born Tomo Nakamura, is a Japanese fashion designer and entrepreneur widely credited with shaping contemporary streetwear through the creation of A Bathing Ape (BAPE), a Tokyo-based label founded in 1993. He popularized a distinctive aesthetic that fused Japanese streetwear with global pop culture, helping to establish BAPE as a leading name in the scene.

BAPE’s distinctive ape logo and bold camouflage patterns propelled Japanese streetwear onto a global stage. The brand’s limited drops and conspicuous branding created a sense of scarcity and anticipation that influenced retail and collaboration cultures. NIGO led the creative direction for BAPE for many years, guiding its visual language and product strategy until stepping back from day-to-day operations in the early 2010s.

In 2012 he launched Human Made, a separate label inspired by vintage American workwear and mid-20th-century pop culture. Human Made expanded his design vocabulary beyond BAPE, emphasizing archival references, craftsmanship, and a retro aesthetic that resonated with a new generation of fans.

NIGO has pursued collaborations across fashion, music, and lifestyle, and has worked with multiple brands and artists to bridge streetwear with broader culture. He remains a central figure in Japanese fashion and the global streetwear movement, known for his emphasis on storytelling, quality, and the nostalgic reinterpretation of past design eras.