As far as Angelo Baque is concerned, Gap belongs in the canon of ’90s New York street style. For the Awake NY founder and designer, his introduction to the something-for-everybody brand came before his inevitable descent into Polo, Hilfiger, and Nautica—the holy trinity of the city’s swaggering, hip-hop-inspired style in that era. “Gap was always a part of my life,” Baque says. “It was one of those staple brands. It was what you wore when you stepped out into the world.” Now, Awake NY and Gap are paying homage to that golden age with a new collaboration set to launch this week.
Before Baque became a New York streetwear lifer—growing Awake into a downtown institution after an influential stint as Supreme’s brand director—he was just a kid in Queens who learned about everything cool from his older sister. He recalls watching her put outfits together before heading out into the city’s club scene—an early education in the links between music and style, personal expression and youthful attitude. And a major part of those outfits was a specific green Gap anorak his sister loved. “I used to steal it from her, and she’d try to beat me up every time,” he says, laughing.
Courtesy of Gap
The collaboration leans into those memories, mixing Awake NY’s bold visual language with classic Gap items: logo hoodies, heavyweight fleece, reimagined denim, graphic T-shirts, and other accessories. There are pops of color and polka dots and plenty of sharp screenprints, and much of the gear feels just right for loud nights at the club and casual hangs on the stoop. Prices range from $18 to $268.
Courtesy of Gap