The Beat #26: A Bathing Ape, Kimchi, Paper Clips, Coffee Beans
This week’s guest contributor, Say Lim, is a New York-based designer and art director.
A Bathing Ape
Founded by Harajuku design mastermind Tomoaki Nagao, aka Nigo, A Bathing Ape has grown from a shoestring budget producing 50 t-shirts a week into one of the most influential streetwear brands on the planet. The name comes from a Japanese expression, “A bathing ape in lukewarm water,” used to describe overindulgent and complacent youth, while also paying tribute to Nigo’s love of science fiction — Planet of the Apes in particular. Nigo has since moved on to create a slew of cool brands, while BAPE continues to be loved by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and more.
Kimchi
Salty, spicy, fermenty… this Korean condiment is a staple in all our kitchens here at The Beat. The history of kimchi dates back to at least 37 BCE (take that, Sriracha), and has always been valued for its nutritional power. Aside from making pretty much everything taste exponentially better, it’s filled with probiotics, vitamins, riboflavin and immune-boosting bacteria. You can make it at home without having to bury it in a jar in your yard … although that’s worked just fine for a few thousand years.
Paper Clips
The humble, ubiquitous paper clip. Denizen of desks, junk drawers and lint traps the world over. First patented by Samuel B. Fay in 1867, it rapidly began to appear in a bevy of unusual designs. Today you can get them shaped like cats, sharks or mustaches (to name a very few interesting forms), and inspired art by makers from school children to filmmakers. The best day to make paper clip art? National Paper Clip Day, of course!
Coffee Beans
Whole. Ground. Chocolate covered. These aromatic little bundles of caffeinated delight have become a cultural staple. We’ve gone a long way from Chock Full o’ Nuts cans to artisanal small batch custom roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. More importantly, we’ve learned about the predatory practices of coffee companies against farmers and learned to seek out fair trade sources. Everyone has their favorite brands (the Beat’s Greg loves Canyon Coffee and Clay has a taste for BLK & Bold) and their preferred way of preparation. From Mr. Coffee, French presses and Moka pots to fancy espresso machines, there are as many ways to prepare it as there are baristas ready to roll their eyes at you for it.
