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NIGO Announces Final Season as Creative Director for A Bathing Ape

stepping down from his role and handing over the ownership rights to I.T Limited, the Japanese designer and entrepreneur has since remained at the helm as Creative Director for BAPE. With an early morningInstagram post on his feed, NIGO has officially confirmed in a statement that as of April 30, 2013, his term as Creative Director of A Bathing Ape has ended. The comment for the picture read:

As of 30 April 2013 the term of my contract with I.T Limited (the new owners of A Bathing Ape since January 2011) as Creative Director has concluded. This brings to a close my 20 years of work creating and designing A Bathing Ape. From now on I will continue to work as a freelance creator in many different fields. I thank you in anticipation of your continued support. BAPE GENERAL NIGO® (1993-2013) painting by ©KAWS

Uploaded alongside the statement, NIGO included a KAWS Kimpsons image.

DABBIN WITH HLLA

My president is black

Supreme Only Trademarked Their Logo Two Weeks Ago?

Almost two weeks ago, the streetwear world was set ablaze when it was made known that Supreme were in the midst of suing fellow New York streetwear label Married to the Mob to the tune of $10 million USD. There haven’t been any new developments pertaining directly to the case, however, New York-based ANIMAL reveals some interesting news regarding Supreme’s trademark. It appears that the logo itself was only recently trademarked, on March 6, 2013 and the name “Supreme” itself, back in the very recent 2011 (to which the status was granted in 2012). Given that a name such as Supreme is generally difficult to trademark (something that Supreme founder James Jebbia has conceded), it will be interesting going forward the implications of all this and what the outcome will be both legally and from a branding perspective when the dust settles.

For a more in-depth look, head over to ANIMAL.

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DOPE SHIT

Supreme Sues Married to the Mob for $10 Million Over “Supreme Bitch” T-shirt

Back in 2004 when Married to the Mob and its founder Leah McSweeney conceived its original “Supreme Bitch” for the brand’s first collection, it was a commentary within the streetwear landscape so often dominated by men. Since then, it’s become a hallmark of the brand almost 10 years later but has recently become fire from Supreme and James Jebbia for what has been claimed as a design that “infringes his trademark rights.” The brand now faces a $10 million dollar lawsuit which will likely stir the pot of controversy as well as once again assess the current state of free speech and trademarks. Below is a note from McSweeney while the court document can be seen below.

Hypebeast has reached out for comments from Supreme and will update you as new information develops.

As some of you may have heard, Supreme is suing me for $10 million over my “Supreme Bitch” design. I’ve been using this design since the first MOB collection in summer 2004. I even sold it as a tee at Union, a store owned and managed by Supreme’s founder James Jebbia, who gave the design his blessing. Now, he’s claiming that the design infringes his trademark rights.

Unlike some companies that blatantly rip-off other brand logos, Married To The Mob has always had its own identity and aesthetic by being an extension of my life experiences. I started this company when I was 22 and have come a long way without a piggyback ride from anyone.

Supreme Bitch is one design of many; one slogan of many. And the use of the design has always been to make fun of the misogynistic vibe of Supreme and the boys who wear it.

Bottom line is this: I don’t think Supreme should be able to squash free speech or my right to utilize parody in my design aesthetic. It’s one of the most powerful ways for me to comment on the boy’s club mentality that’s pervasive in the streetwear/skater world. The fact that Supreme is coming after MOB and me personally is just another example of the hostility that MOB — the first women’s street wear brand — has faced from Day 1. And it’s why the Supreme Bitch message is so important.

Civil liberties attorney Norman Siegel agreed to take my case and act as co-counsel along with Edward Rosenthal of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, a law firm that specializes in trademark issues. This isn’t a fight I went out looking for, but I have no choice other than to fight back. Because right now, it’s about more than just a t-shirt!