Nelson Yap - Leading Man Material
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore|March 2022
It Has Been More Than A Decade Since He Started Menswear Label Benjamin Barker In 2009. Now, Nelson Yap Has His Sights On A Global Empire And The Metaverse.
Rohaizatul Azhar
Nelson Yap - Leading Man Material

Midway through his interview, Nelson Yap, founder of home-grown menswear label Benjamin Barker, asks: “Have you heard of the Bored Ape?

Unfortunately, not really. Just enough to know that international celebrities, including American talk show host and comedian Jimmy Fallon, NBA superstar Stephen Curry and socialite Paris Hilton, all own one and are proud members of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). The 39-year-old Singaporean, it seems, is also part of this exclusive club, having purchased a Bored Ape recently for about $200,000. For the uninitiated, BAYC is a sold-out collection of 10,000 profile pictures of a primate, each with its own character traits and outfits, minted as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.

Yap's sharing of this information is not without reason. We're currently finalising our assets to launch our very own NFT collection, and my Bored Ape, dressed in Benjamin Barker, will be utilised as the storyteller for the launch, he reveals the news with excitement in his voice.

He remains rather tight-lipped about the details of the collection that is set to launch in the metaverse in the next couple of months, but shares that holders of the NFTs will be able to dress avatars in the brand's pieces, such as motorcycle and hunting jackets, three-piece suits, blazers and parkas.

It's like a game, he elaborates. For now, we have planned a year-long road map for this storytelling fashion journey, with various touchpoints so that our customers will look forward to the next drop. Plus, they will also be able to receive exclusive physical merchandise.

This story is from the March 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR SINGAPOREView All
Colour Me Happy
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

Colour Me Happy

Spark joy and confidence in your life with a little colour.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
The Perfect Balance
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

The Perfect Balance

Architect Ian Chee's apartment, on the ground floor of a conservation building, is a masterclass in art, design and perspective.

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2024
ISLE OF STYLE
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

ISLE OF STYLE

Escape to this chic hideaway in Phuket where fashion and cocktails are de rigueur and star spotting by the cabana the perfect time killer.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
THE GOLD STANDARD
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

THE GOLD STANDARD

In the opulent home of Bahareh Badiei, her extravagant vision and personal touch is seen in the lovingly curated artworks, lighting and furniture.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
THE REAL DEAL
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

THE REAL DEAL

A name to watch, the Thai actress, singer and host Toey Jarinporn Joonkiat advocates for self-care and sustainability, with a disarming openness.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
UNQUIET LUXURY
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

UNQUIET LUXURY

Basic beige? We don’t know her. This season, designers are sending forth the most interesting propositions without being shouty about it.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
FUNNY MAN
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

FUNNY MAN

With an Emmy Award under his belt, Malaysian-born Ronny Chieng opens up about taking risks, chasing dreams and pushing for greater diversity of Asian stories in showbiz.

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2024
HOROSCOPE
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

HOROSCOPE

If someone wants to whisk you away on a date or a getaway, you have every right to go along or stay put.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
CRAFTING A BRILLIANT FUTURE
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

CRAFTING A BRILLIANT FUTURE

GRAFF unveils its latest additions to the Laurence Graff Signature collection, which pay tribute to the House's legacy, its founder and his love for the world's most celebrated gemstone—the diamond.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
SPECIAL ORDER
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore

SPECIAL ORDER

Avid watch collector, Alvin Chong, talks about his growing collection of custom Cartier timepieces and the very first watch that started it all.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024