Graf Meets Skate For the BAPE SK8 STA Spring '22 Collection
Brand: BAPE
Model: SK8 STA
Release Date: Available now
Price: $315
Buy: Online at BAPE
Editor's Notes: BAPE has never truly gone away – of course not, because how could it? Truly a staple of streetwear, a legacy brand, a hall of fame frontrunner.
That being said, the last couple of years have seen a serious resurgence for the brand, most notably through footwear and collaborations, many of which were unexpected.
In what felt like somewhat of a rogue move, BAPE tapped into the world of Barbour for a lineup of waxed outerwear, accessories, and tees. That barely scratches the surface, however, as team-ups alongside MCM, Woolrich, and Hajime Sorayama dropped, too. And this is all while we wait to see what JJJJound will do with the Ape.
With the comeback of BAPE STAs, including SK8s and HIs, it feels like we're back in the ringtone era, and personally, I've no complaints.
The latest footwear drop comes as part of the brand's Spring 2022 collection, with a pack of SK8 STAs that showcases the cross-cultural connections of graf and skate.
Each of the three colorways on offer – orange, blue, purple – takes on the appearance of fading, gradient sprays of paints, with different panels taking on varied saturations.
Although limited to three styles, this pack feels like one of the more exciting footwear releases from BAPE in a minute and, for me, baring a strong resemblance to the distinct color schemes of Lorenzo G Federici.
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