Edited by Rachel Hajek, Esme Hawes. Text by Pharrell, Johanna Agerman Ross, Tiffany Godoy, David W. Marx, NIGO.
The life and cultural impact of musician and streetwear pioneer NIGO, founder of A Bathing Ape, as told through clothes and ephemera from his personal archive
Working across street style, fashion, music and beyond, NIGO is a multifaceted artist, designer and creative director who has been shaping contemporary culture for over three decades, ever since he founded the influential streetwear label A Bathing Ape. His ability to draw from wide-ranging disciplines and cultural references has produced some of the most influential products in recent fashion history, such as the Bapesta sneaker. While partially inspired by vintage Americana, his clothing and shoe designs remain deeply rooted in Japanese subcultures. Charting NIGO’s inspirations, output and legacy from the 1980s to the present day, From Japan with Love takes a chrono-thematic approach. NIGO’s life story is told primarily through objects from his personal archive and collections—many published here for the first time. These include collectible merchandise, garments, music and film ephemera and printed matter, complemented by his own voice and those of his peers. The book also explores NIGO’s more recent discovery of pottery making, studying with ceramic artists and learning the rituals of the Japanese tea ceremony. Tomoaki Nagao, known as NIGO (born 1970) founded streetwear brand A Bathing Ape in 1993 and served as its chief designer for 20 years. He is a member of Teriyaki Boyz and Honest Boyz, and has collaborated with artists such as Pharrell, ASAP Rocky and Flavor Flav. In 2021 he became Artistic Director at luxury fashion house KENZO.
ABOVE: Levi's 507XX - the first Levi's item that NIGO ever bought. This is Levi's second model, from 1986. "It cost 38,000 yen at the time. I told my mother I bought it for 3,800 yen, but she was still very upset (probably the most upset I have ever seen her.)"
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Featured image—of an SG-100 graphic equalizer, Aurex stereo amplifier model and Aurex AT-1000MK II audio digital timer from the collection of Japanese artist, designer, musician and creative director NIGO—is reproduced from new release NIGO: From Japan with Love, published to accompany the current exhibition at The Design Museum, London. Collecting key items and ephemera from NIGO’s personal collection—from childhood toys to iconic post-war American streetwear to his own designs for A Bathing Ape, Kenzo, Nike, Nintendo and other brands—this 224-page paperback documents the deep-cut cultural references that informed one of the most influential designers across contemporary culture. This stereo system, for example, belonged to NIGO’s brother. “It’s like catching air,” he says of the creative process. “Not an easy thing to define!” continue to blog
FORMAT: Pbk, 8.25 x 10.5 in. / 224 pgs / 150 color / 50 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $34.95 LIST PRICE: CANADA $48.95 ISBN: 9781872005911 PUBLISHER: The Design Museum AVAILABLE: 6/16/2026 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA ONLY
Published by The Design Museum. Edited by Rachel Hajek, Esme Hawes. Text by Pharrell, Johanna Agerman Ross, Tiffany Godoy, David W. Marx, NIGO.
The life and cultural impact of musician and streetwear pioneer NIGO, founder of A Bathing Ape, as told through clothes and ephemera from his personal archive
Working across street style, fashion, music and beyond, NIGO is a multifaceted artist, designer and creative director who has been shaping contemporary culture for over three decades, ever since he founded the influential streetwear label A Bathing Ape. His ability to draw from wide-ranging disciplines and cultural references has produced some of the most influential products in recent fashion history, such as the Bapesta sneaker. While partially inspired by vintage Americana, his clothing and shoe designs remain deeply rooted in Japanese subcultures.
Charting NIGO’s inspirations, output and legacy from the 1980s to the present day, From Japan with Love takes a chrono-thematic approach. NIGO’s life story is told primarily through objects from his personal archive and collections—many published here for the first time. These include collectible merchandise, garments, music and film ephemera and printed matter, complemented by his own voice and those of his peers. The book also explores NIGO’s more recent discovery of pottery making, studying with ceramic artists and learning the rituals of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Tomoaki Nagao, known as NIGO (born 1970) founded streetwear brand A Bathing Ape in 1993 and served as its chief designer for 20 years. He is a member of Teriyaki Boyz and Honest Boyz, and has collaborated with artists such as Pharrell, ASAP Rocky and Flavor Flav. In 2021 he became Artistic Director at luxury fashion house KENZO.
