A BATHING APE® has launched the "Performance All Weather" collection with Kazuki Kuraishi as creative director. As the collection name suggests, the lineup is expected to perform well in a variety of climates and terrains.
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, located in Jozankei, Sapporo, was chosen as the site for the unveiling. We look back on the launch event held on the slopes covered with fresh snow.
Photo_Tatsuki Nakata
Edit_Naoya Tsuneshige
Vape jacks up the slopes!
One day in December. After leaving Haneda Airport, I arrived in Hokkaido before I had even finished watching a movie, and was greeted by a silver world in stark contrast to the concrete jungle of Tokyo.
The editorial department headed for Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, located just a stone's throw from Jozankei, a hot spring resort town in Sapporo.
The purpose of the event was to launch the new "Abasing Ape®" brand. Why is "Abasing Ape®" at a ski resort...? Many may wonder, but the items released this time have a close relationship with the slopes.
The name of the collection is "Performance All Weather. The collection, with Kazuki Kuraishi as the designer, proposes authentic winter sportswear through the new challenge of fusing the essence of urban fashion with the functionality of winter sports.
Posters of this collection were everywhere in the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. Mr. Kuraishi was also in charge of the overall direction of the event, and his enthusiasm and enthusiasm for this collection could be clearly felt.
Here is the extreme.
What a surprise, the gondola is also wrapped!
It looks like it will stay this way during the season, so please go see it in person. Only two of the 82 gondolas are wrapped. You will be lucky if you come across one!
BAPE BY KAZUKI KURAISHI
UAP CAMO SNOWBOARD 2-LAYER JACKET
77,000 yen
Unfortunately, the timing was not right and we were not able to ride the wrapped gondola, but we quickly put on our new sleeves and excitedly headed for the top of the mountain.
As you can see, the most distinctive feature of this item is the digital camo pattern, named UAP CAMO (UNIVERSAL APE PATTERN CAMO), which cleverly hides the brand's signature "APE HEAD," "Foot Soldiers logo," and "BAPE®" in the camouflage. The brand's signature "APE HEAD," "Foot Soldiers logo," and "BAPE®" are cleverly hidden within the camouflage, creating a completely new pattern.
I went for a run right away! It had been about 12 years since I had ridden, but my body remembers. The editorial department wore the "UAP CAMO SNOWBOARD 2-LAYER JACKET" on this day.
The fit is light and supple. In addition, functional details have been added throughout from the perspective of Mr. Kuraishi, who actually enjoys snowboarding on a regular basis. There are four small pockets on the back and a small pocket on the left chest that is just the right size to hold a lift ticket. It is just at the height of the sensor, so I was able to ride the lift smoothly.
In addition, there are ventilations on the sides with watertight zippers. It is cold when you stop in the snowy mountains, but hot when you start skiing. The details that solve such problems are also provided.
In addition to the items worn,Red and yellow monochromatic two-layer jacket, ,3-layer jacket in the same patternand the hem of theShark eye-catching overallsThe lineup also includes
Both are advanced ski and snowboard gear for performance in the snow while maintaining a street aesthetic.
In the snowy mountains or otherwise.
After a day of skiing, we went to Lounge THE 6, a facility located at the foot of the slopes.
This is a new spot that opened in February this year, 2025, and is a relaxing space with a Japanese essence that will be enjoyed by both domestic and foreign tourists. Mr. Kuraishi, of course, selected this place and directed the interior design of the event.
Here, there were a variety of programs to celebrate the launch.
DJ set by Naoto Hiroyama (Orange Range)
DJ booths and catering booths by local restaurants were set up, and the venue was always filled with so much enthusiasm that it was hard to feel the cold weather outside.
On the screen, a short film showing the behind-the-scenes of the production of this item was shown. The testimonies from various people, including Mr. Kuraishi, made the outline of this item even clearer at this moment.
We asked Mr. Kuraishi about the production of this item and the launch event.
Kazuki Kuraishi
I also snowboard, and Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is the ski resort where I usually play and have fun. I am happy to be able to hold an event like this at such a familiar place.
I was involved in the design of "Abasing Ape®" a long time ago, and now I am actually back after 23 years. It's no surprise that the people who knew about "ABACING APE®" back then are now old men (laughs). (laughs) But those people still love "A BASING AIPE®" too. I knew that there was such a core fan base, so I thought it would be interesting to come back and get involved at this point in time.
The first step in the design process was to ask ourselves, "What kind of a serious military design would we be looking for? I started by asking myself, "What kind of serious military would this look like? This chamois is said to be the most invisible chamois used by the U.S. military some time ago. By combining this with the essence of "Abasing Ape®," we arrived at the current design.
I always had in mind "both in town and in the snowy mountains. In the city, a stiff 3-layer jacket might be too bulky and cumbersome. So I chose a fabric that was as thin and soft as possible. But when it comes time to go to the snowy mountains, you can just layer up and put on a layer inside. It is waterproof and windproof. I want people to wear it in a variety of situations.
As the message said, even after getting off the snowy mountain, most people were still wearing them even indoors. As a side note, everyone was wearing them at the airport on the way home, and they stood out in a good way. It was a moment that truly embodied "Performance All Weather.
Now, the event accelerated further toward the finale. Rapper Kaneee and a special live performance by SHO also took place.
Kaneee & Ray
SHO
This event was a great success and ended with the voltage of the venue reaching its maximum. We would like to conclude with a few snaps of the visitors.
Kōki, / Model, Actress
Ray & Kaneee / DJ, Rapper
Shigefumi Yoshimura / Professional Snowboarder
Sean Weatherspoon / Designer
SHO / Rapper
The "Performance All Weather" collection boasts an overwhelming presence both in the city and on the snowy mountains.
Inheriting the "FEARLESS" spirit that is typical of "A BASING APE®," this new collection, with its fresh impression, is expected to create a new movement in the scene.
