Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time, has been transported from the digital screen into screen-printed graphics for BAPE sub-label AAPE's latest collection.
The release features hoodies, sweaters, and t-shirts that combine the streetwear label's camouflage-heavy iconography with Minecraft's trademark cubed art style.
Minecraft's inimitable Creeper enemy and main characters Steve and Alex are joined by AAPE's moon face logo, which has been given the Minecraft treatment by way of a pixelated makeover.
The moon face logo is also incorporated into the game scene atop other items as its hosts the quadrangle setting of Minecraft with its green grass and blue skies.
AAPE's love of collaboration knows no limits and, as the sub-label of collab-obsessed BAPE, it's worked with everyone from the automobile company Suzuki to artist Eric Inkala.
It therefore comes as little surprise that this is not AAPE's first venture into the world of gaming. The brand brought together the worlds of streetwear and video games back in 2019 when it announced a partnership with Xbox, then going on to produce a collection in collaboration with League of Legends in 2020.
And AAPE is not alone, this latest release is part of a wider fascination with gaming in the fashion industry. Whether it be Balenciaga creating its own game or Marc Jacobs and Valentino producing outfits for Animal Crossing, the two worlds are increasingly interacting with each other. It's something that we have argued in our white paper is even pushing fashion into an identity crisis.
The latest in this combining of worlds, the AAPE X Minecraft collection will be released in both men's and kids' sizing from January 1 on the AAPE website, select AAPE stories in Japans and on the Minecraft website.
