At the time of the August 2022 article, the black Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE x STASH” Limited Edition was available in the Netherlands. This special edition brought together three street-culture icons: the signature camouflage look of Tokyo streetwear brand BAPE, a design by New York graffiti pioneer STASH, and a camera intended to capture street culture in a compelling, emotional way.
Street photography is the art of capturing everyday moments naturally and often with deeper meaning. It is an intimate form of documentary photography that holds up a mirror to society, whether from a humorous, thoughtful, or critical perspective. The genre shares that quality with two other art forms that record the urban spirit of the times: streetwear and street art.
Leica brought these three creative worlds together in a special edition of its compact camera: the Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE x STASH.” The camera came in a black version sold through Leica Stores worldwide and a silver version available exclusively from A BATHING APE.
In the Netherlands, the black Limited Edition was originally offered exclusively through Leica Store Amsterdam and Leica Store Lisse at a suggested retail price of €1,990 including VAT.
A BATHING APE
Streetwear label BAPE (A BATHING APE) embodies the energy of a young generation and brings Tokyo’s urban street style to the world through contemporary designs. Founded in 1993, the brand had represented street fashion for more than 28 years when the source article appeared. Its iconic designs, original patterns, and characters include “APE HEAD,” “BAPE CAMO,” “BAPE STA™,” “SHARK HOODIE,” and “BABY MILO.”
STASH
From the Asian metropolis, the story moves to New York, where street-art pioneer and legend STASH, also known as Josh Franklin, helped create a new genre by bringing his work from anonymous subway tunnels into public view. As one of the pioneers of New York’s graffiti scene, he became an established innovator and influential figure in urban design.
His vision of integrating graffiti graphics and lettering into commercial product design reached a broad audience and helped graffiti culture emerge from dark subway tunnels into public acceptance. His hidden, “stashed away” messages and iconic signature became a brand of their own, immortalized in prominent collaborations with major names in streetwear.
As a photography enthusiast searching for new forms of expression, he found a natural match in Leica; the current compact model is the Leica D-Lux 8. The collaboration marked another milestone in the street artist’s exploration of how to capture a fleeting moment.
Source: Transcontinenta
