Updated October 3rd, 2024: The Bape Shark Sta will first release on October 5th, 2024 in the “Country Pack” editions. A total of ten different colorways, with each representing its own country, will release on US.BAPE.COM and Bape locations. See the entire collection just below.
A resolution to the BAPE Nike lawsuit back in April came with a promise of major changes to the brand’s footwear styles, legally required modifications to avoid infringing on the Swoosh’s trademarks. However, the latest silhouette to join the A Bathing Ape family may signal the imprint embracing more far-reaching changes on their own accord. They’re getting in on the mesh runner wave with their newest formulation, the Shark Sta.
Curvilinear panels of suede radiate out from the eyestays, becoming more angular outlining the toebox.A stacked composition of thinner layers graces the sidewalls, with Bape’s iconic shark teeth cropping up in the middlemost section. Finally, addition to ushering in Bape’s entry into the runner world, this also marks one of the first times their footwear has eschewed their Star logo on the upper. Instead, the interstellar design lands on the midsole, the star itself splitting the underfoot traction in half.
The comparisons are wide ranging for this silhouette, natural given the brand’s penchant for referential designs. At first glance, models like the New Balance 2002R and Balenciaga Triple S present as the most obvious, but any 1-to-1 comparison is diluted by the fact that most major footwear players have embraced this vertical.
The styles featured above, part of the BAPE x A Bored Ape Yacht Club Season 2 collection, each release on October 12th. The green colorway is exclusive to BAPE CARD GOLD holders, while the BLUE edition gets a wider release. Either shoe is limited to just 1,000 pairs. However, the true debut for the model comes with the SHARK COUNTRY PACK, introducing the Shark Sta alongside a range of apparel on October 4th via BAPE in-store locations and online. Catch images of all these styles below,