BAPE — or more formally known as A Bathing Ape — joined forces with American streetwear brand KidSuper to create a capsule of bold statements and versatile patterns. The “A Super Ape” collection combines the various signature street motifs of both the classic Harajuku nature of BAPE and the more preppy attitude of KidSuper. 

“As an early pioneer of double brands in Harajuku, we are thrilled to be pushing the boundaries of collaboration yet again,” BAPE CEO Mahmoud el Salahy said. “Debuting on the runway, the BAPE by KidSuper collection brings our iconic codes together to celebrate the ultimate superpower — fearless self-expression.” 

At the grandiose Halle Charlie Parker within La Villette, KidSuper set the stage for a whirlwind of surrealism and collaborative capsules with a literal tornado at the center of the runway made by artist Daniel Wurtzel. Marking KidSuper’s fifth year on the Paris Fashion Week scene, creative director Colm Dillane takes to the runway with a slew of unexpected looks — making it no wonder that the collection is named “From a Place I Have Never Been,” as light billowing fabrics contrast the normally heavy nature of KidSuper’s collections.

“I like walking into the unknown—going to places I have never been, trying things I have never done, and fearlessly jumping into the unknown,” Dillane said. “The outcome is always uncertain—sometimes extraordinary, sometimes a lesson—but it’s always inspiring.” 

Wurtzel’s tornado installation was a precursor for the collection to come. As the wind blew, the tornado created movement and a sense of direction for the BAPE collaboration — along with other eclectic brand crossovers — to take the stage. Acclaimed Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto also brought his experimental brand WILDSIDE to the KidSuper stage. 

With Yamamoto, along with other brand collaborations with the French brand Hamcus and the Brazilian artisans at Piet, artisanal tailored pieces are consistently played against heavier, more dynamic t-shirts, sweatshirts, and trench coats. 

This is the styling ethos that KidSuper has established in previous collections, like Dillane’s avant-garde Fall/Winter 2024 “String Theory” collection. Dillane tends to lean more into the avant-garde when it comes to women’s wear, taking special care in creating one-of-a-kind textiles that align with the mission of the “From a Place I Have Never Been” collection. 

Dillane, with his many collaborations, has created a collection that seeks to both bridge cultures and also simply bring brands together. Russian singer Ekaterina Shelehova closes the show, walking through the tornado singing as the wind sends the train of her sheer white Kidsuper gown into the air.