Reselling up to 1800% above retail | Back in 2018, READYMADE, BAPE, and Medicom Toy teamed up for a series of collaborative Be@rbricks. A streetwear historian's wet dream, the 700mm 1000% model came dressed in an iconic camo BAPE Shark Hoodie ,as well as READYMADE's signature vintage military fabric. Naturally, the swagged-out bear would inevitably drop at select retailers, selling for about ￥300,000 or $2,700. Fast forward to the present day — the plastic potbelly bear has a market price of $121,000.
We're no investment experts, but we'd say that 4381.5% increase in value is a pretty impressive return on investment. And this isn't a one-off case. | | | Before you start doing the Birdman hand rub, let's examine why people continue to dish out so much for this plastic humanoid bear. No, you're not going to get rich flipping bears. Yet, if you're a fan of the figurine and have been looking for another reason to cop the toy for your apartment, "it's an appreciating asset" may turn out to be a solid excuse. | | Early in its history, at the turn of the millennia, Medicom's new toy partnered with individuals, organizations, and fashion labels at the pinnacle of the culture. The toy's lore is extensive and includes partnerships with KAWS, Baccarat, Nike, Andy Yun Minjun, Jean Michel Basquiat, mastermind Japan, Hermes, Pixar, Tom & Jerry, Daft Punk, CLOT, Takashi Murakami... the list goes on.
These collaborations attracted hordes of fans of the partnering brands. Rich kids, the streetwear conscious, seasoned art collectors, and significant personalities such as Pharrell Williams, Nigo, DJ Khaled, and Ben Baller have all been seen flexing with their Bearbrick collections on the gram. | | Their scarcity helps their hype. They're hard to get a hold of at retail for two reasons — limited quantity and limited retailers. All Bearbricks are limited edition, rarely set for rerelease. Major drops only come twice a year, with a few smaller general and special occasion releases occurring throughout the year.
As for retailers, Medicom keeps the selection of shops limited, too. Even if you want to buy directly from Bearbrick, you can't, as the Japanese brand doesn't accept purchase orders from people outside of the country. Thankfully, Highsnobiety is one of said select retailers. | | | ● MORE COLLECTIBLES WE'RE COVETING | | | |  |
