Gap
Gap Inc. · United States
Gap is the American casualwear brand founded in San Francisco in 1969 by Donald and Doris Fisher, and the namesake brand of Gap Inc., which also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. Known for denim, khakis and logo sweatshirts, it sells through company-operated stores, franchise partners and online.
| Founded | 1969, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Founders | Donald and Doris Fisher |
| Owner | Gap Inc. |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States |
| Gap Inc. CEO | Richard Dickson (since 2023) |
| Creative director | Zac Posen (appointed 2024) |
| Website | gap.com |
What is Gap?
Gap is a casual apparel and accessories brand for women, men and children, and a defining name in American casual style. It belongs to Gap Inc., the NYSE-listed company headquartered in San Francisco and led by president and chief executive Richard Dickson since 2023. In February 2024 the group appointed designer Zac Posen as creative director of Gap and chief creative officer of Old Navy.
History
Donald and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap store in San Francisco's Ingleside neighbourhood on 21 August 1969; it initially sold only Levi's jeans and LP records. The company grew into a national chain with its own label, added Banana Republic (1983), launched Old Navy (1994) and later acquired Athleta. Gap became one of the best-known American fashion brands of the 1990s. In 2021 it closed its 81 UK and Irish stores and moved online there. A ten-year partnership with Yeezy, announced in 2020, ended in 2022.
Products and positioning
Gap's offer is rooted in denim and wardrobe essentials such as khakis, T-shirts and logo sweatshirts, along with GapKids and babyGap. The brand positions itself as an authority on American casual style, sitting above Old Navy on price and below Banana Republic.
Business model and distribution
Gap sells through company-operated stores, franchise stores in many international markets and online. Its North American store count has fallen sharply, from about 1,400 in 2005 to 472 in 2024, as the group closed underperforming mall stores. Key arrangements include:
- Company-operated stores in North America and Japan.
- Franchise partners in markets across the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
- In the UK, a joint venture with Next since 2021, under which Next runs Gap's UK website and Gap concessions in some Next stores.
Why it matters
Gap helped define the American specialty apparel model and remains one of its best-known brands. Its recent turnaround under Richard Dickson, combining fewer stores, partnerships such as the Next joint venture and a sharper creative identity, is closely watched as a test of whether a heritage mall brand can regain cultural relevance.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Gap?
Gap is owned by Gap Inc., a publicly listed US company that also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. Its chief executive is Richard Dickson.
Does Gap still have stores in the UK?
Gap closed its UK and Irish stores in 2021. Since then it has worked with Next, which runs Gap's UK website and operates Gap concessions in some Next stores through a joint venture.
