British record label Mo’ Wax grew to prominence in the ’90s for being at the forefront of trip hop, turntablism and the alternative hip hop scene. The label, founded by James Lavelle of UNKLE, helped bring recognition to graffiti artist Futura 2000, featuring his artwork on a variety of releases throughout the ’90s, with art direction led by Ben Drury. BAPE is now paying tribute to the legacy of Mo’ Wax and UNKLE with a new collection dubbed “Original Headz.”
The ten-piece collection provides offerings such as t-shirts, jackets, and sweatshirts, while the spotlight remains on the UNKLE BAPESTA. Design elements within the collection feature characters and logos created by Futura, Ben Drury, and James Lavelle. The “MO WAX ARTS CAMO” seen on various pieces is a symbolic design created to express the identities of MO WAX and UNKLE; it can be seen throughout the lineup incorporating the duck pattern, a graphic trend popular in ’99, into the modern collection. The BAPESTA is an updated version based on the UNKLE BAPESTA released in 2003, featuring “M.W.A. CAMO” and lime green accents.
The BAPE x UNKLE/MO WAX “Original Headz” collection will be available on March 20th via A Bathing Ape stores, BAPE.com, US.BAPE.com, and ZOZOTOWN.
