BAPE BE@RBRICK

BE@RBRICK wasn’t originally designed to be sold at all — it was born out of a scheduling problem. In 2001, Medicom Toy founder Tatsuhiko Akashi needed a giveaway figure for attendees of Tokyo’s World Character Convention, and under tight time pressure, he adapted the company’s existing Kubrick figure into a simplified, instantly recognizable bear shape. That emergency fix became one of the most collected designer toys in the world, later hosting collaborations with everyone from KAWS and Andy Warhol’s estate to Chanel and Disney. BAPE’s own release in this space, the Bape X F1 Las Vegas Be@rbrick, sits inside that same lineage — a collectible art object first, a piece of BAPE branding second.

Understanding the Percentage Sizing System

Unlike anything else across BAPE’s catalog, Be@rbrick pieces aren’t sized by body measurement at all — they’re sized by scale, expressed as a percentage of the original 2001 figure:

• 100% is the baseline size, standing about 7 cm tall — the reference point every other size is measured against.
• 400% stands roughly 28 cm tall, four times the base figure, and is generally the size most collectors display prominently.
• 1000% reaches about 70 cm, a genuine statement piece rather than a shelf accent.

The current BAPE release comes as a 100% and 400% set, giving both a small desk-scale piece and a larger display-scale piece from the same design in one release.

This Is a Display Object, Not Daily-Use Merchandise

Where the rest of BAPE’s catalog gets worn, washed, and replaced over time, a Be@rbrick is built to be kept and displayed indefinitely, which changes how it should be handled entirely:

• Keep it out of direct sunlight. Prolonged UV exposure fades painted and printed plastic surfaces over time, a common issue with figures displayed on a sunny windowsill for years.
• Handle the joints carefully. Be@rbrick figures are built with points of articulation at the head, arms, and legs — repeatedly repositioning them can loosen the joints over years of handling.
• Original packaging matters for value. Unlike clothing, where tags rarely affect resale price much, a Be@rbrick’s original box condition significantly affects what collectors are willing to pay for it later.

Why This Category Behaves Differently on Resale

Apparel generally loses value the moment it’s worn. Limited-run collectibles like this one often move the opposite direction — a Be@rbrick tied to a specific event (in this case, the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix) is a one-time release that won’t be reproduced, which is exactly the kind of scarcity that drives collector demand upward over time rather than down. That’s also part of why this collection intentionally stays small: Medicom and its collaborators release Be@rbrick drops in limited, dated runs rather than an ongoing product line, and BAPE’s own release follows that same logic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why is this collection listed in percentages instead of standard sizes? 

Ans: Be@rbrick figures are scaled relative to the original 2001 design rather than measured by body dimensions — 100% is the base figure, and larger percentages like 400% are proportionally bigger display versions of that same design.

Q2: Should I keep the Be@rbrick in its original box? 

Ans: Yes, if resale value matters to you — original packaging condition has a significant effect on what collectors will pay for a piece later, more so than with most other product categories.

Q3: Is the Bape X F1 Las Vegas Be@rbrick likely to be re-released? 

Ans: Be@rbrick collaborations tied to specific events are generally one-time, limited releases rather than ongoing products, which is a key part of what drives collector interest in pieces like this one.

Q4: Can I display a Be@rbrick anywhere in my home? 

Ans: Anywhere except direct sunlight is fine — prolonged UV exposure is the most common cause of fading on painted or printed Be@rbrick surfaces over time.