Brand: BAPE x COMME des GARÇONS
Release Date: December 11
Price: ￥11,000 - ￥33,000 (about $96 - $290)
Buy: COMME des GARÇONS Osaka via lottery
Editor's Notes: It's always an occasion whenever BAPE debuts a new collaborative collection with COMME des GARÇONS' streetwear-y CDG line. Ever since BAPE opened its shop-in-shop at CdG's Osaka outpost, it's kept a steady stream of exclusive capsules coming, reworking BAPE motifs with COMME des GARÇONS CDG flair.
The partnership between BAPE and CdG Osaka came outta left field when it was announced in summer 2020. Though pair had partnered in the past on Dover Street Market drops, this permanent in-store residency was a pretty big step in their relationship.
COMME des GARÇONS CDG and BAPE recently solidified their partnership at the former label's yearly BLACK MARKET event, marking a strong year in CDG collabs that include exclusives from Stüssy and Futura.
In fact, the past week alone has been a good one for fans of casual COMME fare, as COMME des GARÇONS Girl dished a new Vans partnership and CdG Play launched a line of K-Way jackets.
This go-round BAPE & CDG lineup have issued a series of BAPE signatures with thematic graphics and detailing, focusing primarily on this clever CDG/BAPE camo pattern that appears throughout the range. You've got co-branded tees and sweaters, a zip-up Shark hoodie laden with "CDG" at the hood, some headwear and a daypack for flexing on the go.
As usual, it's nothing too out-there — the collaborative BAPESTAs were probably the most interesting CDG x BAPE tie-up — but the emphasis is clearly on the camo pattern, which appears throughout the line. Perhaps it doesn't even appear enough!
I wouldn't mind seeing BAPE get its graphics atop some mainline COMME des GARÇONS fare one day, though: camo-covered skirts aren't exactly unexplored terrain for COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS, after all.
