Nike filed a lawsuit on January 25, 2023, against streetwear brand BAPE, also known as A Bathing Ape. The question of whether Nike was going to take action against the Japanese had been in play for several years. According to Nike, BAPE's silhouettes suspiciously resemble the Air Force 1, Dunk Low, and Air Jordan 1 High, Nike's iconic models.
Last Wednesday, the Japanese streetwear brand was officially sued in a Manhattan court. Nike is suing the company for years of copying its iconic silhouettes. From the Air Force 1, to the Dunk Low, and even the Air Jordan 1 Low and High seem to have been copied by BAPE.
The Bape Sta, BAPE's most famous silhouette, seems to take inspiration from the Nike Air Force 1. Released in 2000, the Bape Sta has been around for several years. According to Nike, the reason why Nike is only now suing the brand has to do with the conversation that took place between the brands in 2009. The conversation between the two seemed to go well and BAPE gave the Bape Sta a new makeover so that the silhouette looked less like the Air Force 1.
However, in 2021, the Japanese streetwear brand seemed to have reversed this design and the original Bape Sta reappeared in store. According to Nike, BAPE: "drastically increased the volume and scope of its infringement," the brand tells Complex. Whether Nike will win the lawsuit remains to be seen.
Keep an eye on our news page and stay up-to-date on this lawsuit.