A Bathing Ape or BAPE (ア・ベイシング・エイプ, A Beishingu Eipu?) is a Japanese clothing company founded by Nigo (real name Tomoaki Nagao) in 1993[1]. The company specializes in urban and hip-hop fashion, operating stores in Japan including BAPE, BAPE Store, Foot Soldier & the Bape Exclusive store which is located in Aoyama, Tokyo. The company also operates Bape Cuts hair salon, Bape Café and gallery, Bape Sounds records. There are stores located in Hong Kong, London, New York, Taiwan and Los Angeles. Nigo also founded the womens clothing lines "APEE" which is the female version of BAPE, and "BAPY" which is the female "couture" clothing line.