Inside London's Design Museum 'NIGO: From Japan with Love' Exhibition

As the Design Museum's long-anticipated retrospective NIGO: From Japan with Love gets ready to open to the public, insiders have shared a look at what visitors can expect from Friday, May 1, to Sunday, Oct. 4. Tickets are on sale now.

The retrospective begins with NIGO's childhood. The Japanese creative began collecting at 6-years-old, but the dozens of items that have been curated as part of the exhibit showcase that his interest in archiving things has lasted over 45 years.

Some standout pieces in NIGO include an early prototype of the BAPE STA™ by A BATHING APE® from 2000; this piece pre-dates the first pair to launch in 2001 through NIGO's Foot Soldier retail space. Additionally, NIGO's burgeoning collaboration with Nike is in full-display at the exhibit. An all-white pair of the Air Force 1 Low by NIGO was unveiled through the space. Only 50 pairs exist and the silhouette reverts to the same shape from '01 that inspired the original BAPE STA™.

Ahead, you'll find images from inside the Design Museum's NIGO: From Japan with Love exhibit.

From May 1-Oct. 4, 2026, London's Design Museum will host NIGO: From Japan with Love, charting the 54-year-old's illustrious career. As the first museum retrospective and exhibition outside of Japan to embark on the task, the effort is ambitious, but ready to highlight an influential creative force from the last 30 years.

It's uncertain exactly what will be showcased in NIGO. The Design Museum's curation team, however, has a lot to pull from given the length and depth of the Japanese icon's professional work. He was at the helm of BAPE® for at least 15 years and currently operates Human Made. His work with the Three Stripes encompasses more than a dozen footwear styles while the NIGO x Nike partnership has amassed a handful of drops over the last year.

This is without getting into his work outside of the realm of sportswear, which includes jewelry, music production, restaurant direction, and hotel design.

In 2022, NIGO showcased his vintage clothing collection at his alma mater, Bunka Fashion College, in an exhibit titled The Future Is in the Past. The Design Museum's NIGO retrospective is also expected to include rare items from the personal collection of "The General."

NIGO: From Japan with Love arrives in London on Friday, May 1, 2026. Ticket information and schedules are expected to be made public near the exhibition's opening day. While you wait, you can shop NIGO on StockX right now.

In other news, the world of Nike Basketball continues to expand.