Bape T Shirt: Sizing, Models and How to Spot a Real One

A Bape t shirt is a heavy cotton tee, usually around 200 to 220 gsm, printed with the ape head, the shark or a camo pattern. Second-hand, most pieces sit between roughly 40 and 150 euros, and rare collaborations climb well past that. The price depends on the print, the year and the condition of the collar.

Bape (A Bathing Ape) was founded in Tokyo in 1993 by Nigo. Its tees have been copied for three decades, so buying used means learning a few checks first.

Which Bape t shirt models are worth looking for

The classic is the ape head logo tee, often in white or black, with the head printed on the chest or the back. It is the easiest to find and the safest first piece.

The camo tees come next. The ABC camo, with its green, pink, blue or grey colourways, shows up on pocket tees and on large chest prints. Shark Hoodie imagery also appears on tees, though the full-zip hoodie remains the better-known piece.

The Bape bicolour tee

The two-tone versions, with contrasting sleeves or a split body, are the most recognisable of the lot. If that style appeals to you, our page on the Bape bicolour tee covers it in more detail.

Collaboration tees

Bape has worked with Kaws, Marvel, Adidas, Coca-Cola and many others. Collaboration pieces carry the highest resale value, and the highest fake rate. Be extra careful with anything that looks too cheap.

Bape tee sizing and fit

Bape sizes run Japanese, which means smaller than European or US labels. Most people take one size up. A European medium usually fits as a Bape large, and sometimes an XL if you like a loose cut.

Measure a tee you already own. Lay it flat and note the chest width (pit to pit) and the length from collar to hem. A Bape large typically measures about 56 to 58 cm across the chest and 71 to 73 cm in length, though older and newer batches vary by a centimetre or two. Ask the seller for these numbers rather than trusting the tag.

For comparison, a plain Stussy basic tee tends to fit larger than a Bape of the same labelled size, so do not carry your size over blindly.

How to spot a fake Bape tshirt

Fakes are common. No single check settles it, so look at several things together.

• The neck label: the font should be crisp and evenly spaced, with clean stitching on all sides.
• The care label: it should list the country of manufacture (often Japan) and the right fibre content, with sharp printing.
• The print: the ape head should have clean edges, correct proportions and no cracking on a recent piece.
• The cotton: it feels dense and slightly stiff. Thin, shiny or stretchy fabric is a warning sign.
• The price: a rare collab at 20 euros is almost never real.

Ask for photos of the inside of the collar, the side seams and the hem. A serious seller sends them without fuss. Compare them with pictures of a confirmed pair of authentic labels from the same season.

Condition checks on a used Bape tee

Look at the collar first. It stretches and curls on worn tees. Then check the underarms for yellowing, and the print for peeling or heavy cracking. Light fading on a 2000s piece is normal and often liked. Holes and bleach marks are not.

Early Nigo-era tees from the late 1990s and 2000s are sought after, and some collectors accept more wear for the sake of age. For daily wear, pick something from the last ten years in good shape.

Caring for a Bape t shirt

Wash it inside out at 30 degrees, with a gentle cycle and no tumble dryer. Dry it flat or on a hanger. Heat is what cracks prints fastest.

Iron on the reverse side only, and never directly on the print.

Styling a Bape tee

Keep the rest of the outfit quiet. A loud camo tee works with plain black cargo trousers, or with Carhartt work pants and a pair of Air Jordan 1s. A plain white ape head tee is easy under an overshirt.

If you want to compare with another loud logo piece, an Off-White tee shirt shows a very different approach, with arrows and quotation marks instead of animal prints.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Bape tee and a Bape t shirt?

Nothing, it is the same garment. People write tee, tshirt or t shirt depending on habit. Bape itself uses various names on its own product lines, but the item is a short-sleeved cotton top.

Does Bape run small?

Yes, usually by one size compared with European brands. Check the chest and length measurements in centimetres instead of relying on the label. When in doubt between two sizes, take the larger one for a relaxed streetwear fit.

How much does a second-hand Bape tee cost?

Common ape head tees go for about 40 to 90 euros in good condition. Camo and bicolour pieces often cost 80 to 150 euros. Rare collaborations can go much higher, and prices are only a rough guide.

Is a Bape tee with no tags fake?

Not necessarily. Many genuine used tees have lost their hang tags or have faded care labels. The neck label, stitching and fabric quality tell you far more than missing tags.