BUDS Tee 1996

WTAPS was founded by Tetsu Nishiyama (TATS) in 1996 in Tokyo. The brand's early tees — referencing military culture, skateboarding, and Japanese craft — established the vocabulary of Tokyo's counter-streetwear movement. WTAPS' deliberate opacity (the brand name is nearly unpronounceable in Japanese: "double taps") and limited distribution through Zozotown and select stores created an underground following before international recognition. Original 1996-2000 WTAPS tees are foundational. Value: ¥40,000–¥200,000.