Nigo

Tomoaki Nagao, better known as NIGO, is a Japanese fashion designer, DJ, and entrepreneur. Born in 1970 in Maebashi, Japan, NIGO is best known for founding BAPE and Human Made and being the Creative Director of the Japanese-French fashion brand Kenzo. NIGO started A Bathing Ape in 1993 with friend and collaborator SK8THING. The same year, he opened the wildly influential NOWHERE store alongside Undercover's Jun Takahashi. An integral part of Tokyo's music, fashion and lifestyle scene, NIGO brought BAPE to unprecedented heights, crossing over the US, thanks to his friendship with influential people like Pharrell Williams. NIGO stepped down from BAPE in 2009, subsequently starting his new brand, Human Made. NIGO clothing can be characterized as Ametora reinterpretations through military and Ivy staples with colorful and playful prints. Since 2021, he has also used this approach as the artistic director of the French luxury fashion house Kenzo, further solidifying his status as a significant figure in the fashion industry.