Archive for 2012

    February 21, 2012 4:26 PM by The Blog Squad

    Old Navy Fitologists Find Your Dream Jeans

    /content/gapinc/html/blog/2012/02/old_navy_fitologists/jcr:content/par/image/file

    Weeding your way through racks of jean styles can give anyone the blues. Boot-cut? Skinny? Straight? Low-rise? Regular?

    They all pretty much look the same so you grab a few, bring ‘em into the dressing room, and the frustration begins. One gives you a muffin top; another shows your bum. It’s too wide in the thighs, too small in the hips. How is it possible that humans have figured out how to split the atom, but we can’t find one perfect-fitting pair of jeans!

    Well, at least it’s comforting to know we’re not the only ones who’ve suffered denim trauma: To help shoppers across the country solve their dungaree dilemmas, jean-fitting expert “Fitologists” will be atOld Navy stores this month. Finally, there's folks who know what style looks great on your body (besides Mom – who only thinks she does).

    To kick-start your jean therapy, here’s a few Fitologist “Tips for Fits”:

    Gals: What’s your body type?

    1.       If you have a smaller waist and fuller thighs, try the Sweetheart fit. It sits on the waist and looks great in Boot-Cut or Skinny.

    2.       For those with straighter waists and fuller thighs, check out the Flirt. It sits just below the waist in Boot-Cut, Super Skinny, and Trouser.

    3.       Straighter waist and slimmer thighs? Definitely try the sit-on-the-hip Diva style.

    4.       Hint: The Rockstar fit is super stretchy and looks great on all shapes.

    Guys: How loose or fitted do you like it?

    1.       For a super-fitted look that sits just below the waist, check out the Slim Straight.

    2.       If you prefer an easy fit through the hip and thigh, try the Straight fit.

    3.       For more of a loose style that sits below the waist, check out the Loose fit.

     

    February 21, 2012 10:52 AM by Heather Hopkins, Gap Inc. Canada

    Old Navy Celebrates Family Day in Canada


    Bake cookies. Hit the slopes. Catch a free film. Visit Old Navy Funnovation Imaginarium event. Belly laugh. Mug for the camera. These are all the ways we are spending Family Day in Canada.

    For our Gap Inc. family around the world - Family Day is the third Monday of February and observed as a statutory holiday in the three Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.  Family Day is still a relatively new holiday, but in just a few short years, Canadians have seen it grow from a quiet day off - like a bonus day off work and school for the whole family - to province-wide celebrations.

    I spent Family Day weekend with my husband and 2 ½ year old son visiting good friends in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We came home just in time for more family fun and joined our Old Navy family at the Funnovation Imaginarium event at Queen’s Square store in Etobicoke.  We celebrated with magic markers, a cookie bar, and a crazy catwalk… need I say more?

    So in honor of Family Day the Canadian way, remember to give your family some extra love and fun too!

     

    February 14, 2012 1:19 PM by The Blog Squad

    A Valentine's Day Tribute to Gap Inc.


    On this Valentine’s Day, we invited our global communications team to come up with images that capture “Why we LOVE working at Gap Inc.”

    From NY to SF to Canada and the UK... a bunch of photos came in that got us thinking… there’s a lot to love!

    Check out our snapshots and share your “pins” with us on our new Pinterest page.

    Want a “relationship?” We’re open to it -  on Facebook and Twitter!

     

     

     

    February 10, 2012 11:03 AM by Corey Lyons

    Made in San Francisco (Just Like Us)


    It’s not often that you walk into a Banana Republic store and become, at least temporarily, overcome with a scent of fresh-cut blooms (did I just say that?).

    But that’s one of the surprises for shoppers at the Grant Avenue store in San Francisco, where an archway by the front entrance introduces shoppers to SFMade, a pop-up shop-within-a-store to promote locally made cool stuff – from plantscapes (Lila B), handmade chocolates (Poco Dolce), skincare and bath products (Heliotrope) and luxury items for dogs (Blueblood).

    On a personal level, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Poco Dolce bittersweet bar with peanut butter … not to get too specific on you.

    SFMade, which opened this week, connects to us, too, because Doris and Don opened their first store in this fine city back in ’69 …




    February 9, 2012 9:31 AM by Cacky Rhoades, Gap Inc. Social Shopping Advisor

    Chic Geek Fashion Week

    /content/gapinc/html/blog/2012/02/chic_geek_fashionwe/jcr:content/par/image/file


    New York Fashion Week is finally here!

    As champions of American fashion for over forty years, we're looking forward to a successful week for our industry. This year, we’ll be tuning in with a fabulous “digitaltopia” of tools that gives the tech savvy and fashion obsessed front row seats from wherever we are with our devices.  

    Starting today, we’ll be able to watch nearly a third of the 200 shows live online. Mercedes Benz has partnered with YouTube to create the Live From the Runway channel that will livestream shows alongside interviews with designers and backstage footage.

    Now, if you’re like me and won’t have time to watch them all, I recommend keeping an eye on the official Fashion Week 2012 Twitter feed - @MBFashionWeek - to get real-time updates and photos of the best of what’s walking down the runway. I also plan to check in with the newest social sharing phenomenon -Pinterest - to follow the pins from fashion powerhouse attendees, like Marie Claire’s Fashion Director and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia, to see what trends their spotting on and off the catwalk. 

    Need more ideas on how to stay connected? Mashable recently shared some other good Twitter handles, Instagram gallerinas, and Facebook pages for us to follow and help geek-chic, invitation-less, fashion lovers – like myself - get a glimpse.  Oh, and be sure to follow Gap Inc. on Facebook and Twitter to get updates from our brands’ exclusive Fall 2012 preview events that we’re hosting later this spring.

    So, tell us. How are you going to stay connected to NYFW 2012? Invitation? Or digitalivation?

    February 8, 2012 11:10 AM by The Blog Squad

    Why Your (Stylish) Socks Matter

    It's pretty awe-inspiring living and working in such close proximity to Silicon Valley’s most innovative tech start-ups. And I'm sure innovation and creativity breeds the same energy in pockets all over the globe.

    Thanks to a recent NYT article, we now have a glimpse into what really gives those creative entrepreneurs a leg up: Socks!

    But we’re not talking just any old sole covering threads. From classically cool stripes, polka dots, and geometric patterns to flamboyantly-colorful footwork, we finally get where those geeky computer guys have been hiding their fashion flair.

    Whether punching up California casual sweats or the obligatory seal-the-deal suits, screamy socks (think: hot pink, red and purple, or even ones that say “bacon”) have been spotted on execs from Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, just to name a few. And the techies dig showing off their artful ankles – through social media, of course. Pretty sure this could be a global phenomenon.

    So I guess that’s the secret sauce: A little shot of style and you’ve got the world at your feet.

     

    February 3, 2012 12:07 PM by Danielle Samaniego

    Mad for 'Mad Men' (Clothes)


    It’s pretty safe to say that I’m about to get my inner Joan Holloway on this Spring.

    As if I weren’t excited enough for the LONG-awaited return of AMC’s “Mad Men”, Banana Republic went ahead and re-partnered with Costume Designer Janie Bryant on a new capsule collection for Spring.

    All those bright polos, graphic floral blouses and chic cropped capris—the collection is the perfect way to usher in the new seasons—Spring and Season 5, that is.

    Last year’s collection provided some comfort during those months without the stunningly stylish office mates of Sterling, Cooper, Draper and Pryce to admire. But being able to embrace a modern ‘60s frock while discussing the latest indiscretions of Don Draper and his associates—now that’s classy.

    But don’t just take my word for it—check out a preview of the new line now at The Republic blog.

     

    February 2, 2012 2:05 PM by Jed Smith, Athleta

    What It's Like at an Athleta Photo Shoot


    I’ve just returned from Belize. We’d been shooting our summer catalog for Athleta – an adventurous and inspiring experience. By the time I’d arrived, our photo crew had already been shooting for eight days. They've accomplished some spectacular work.

    Many of our locations were breathtaking. The natural colors and textures provided great backdrops for a good portion of our summer marketing imagery.

    These shoots often mix the planned versus the unplanned, which is why you see some candid shots in this blog. Before one location shoot, for example, everyone visited the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. The team shared with me the experience of being in the ruins, in the early morning with fog with mist all around, and a sense of solemnity.

    Later, we shot at a bay where there was a pristine beach and brightly colored Caribbean houses. There was also a restaurant and scuba diving shop, out over the water. With our Athleta “gal” doing some slack lining between two palm trees (she's getting to be quite the pro at this), and our other athlete/model did some amazing yoga poses on the dock, including a triangle pose and a head stand.
      
    One day, because of bad weather, we went for Plan B: shooting around our hotel. Our first athlete started the day doing lots and lots of drills on the beach (as well as drills on, and hanging from, a palm tree).

    Just before lunch, our other Athleta woman did a flawlessly executed crow pose in the middle of the hotel dock. Amazing balance and strength.I am reminded why I am so lucky in my job at Athleta - being inspired daily by such strength!
     
    At the end of the trip, we shot from a sandbar, about 10-feet wide at its widest. The water was so shallow, on both sides, that it looked as if we were walking on water.
     
    As we wrapped up the last day, I thought of the massive amounts of beautiful photography we’d shot—and work to do. But these images are so inspiring to me, showing a woman’s journey of strength and empowerment. I hope you agree.  





    January 25, 2012 5:38 PM by Danielle Samaniego

    2012--Enter the Dragon


    Happy Dragon Year, everyone!

    No, this isn’t something I say often. But it’s on my mind because it’s the tagline splashed in our Gap store windows in China, as this week marks the start of the Year of the Dragon.

    In our stores and windows, Chinese customers won’t miss the red placards (“Happy Dragon Year”) that acknowledge this significant holiday in their culture. It’s a little way of expressing how Gap shows up differently in other parts of the world.

    To get a better sense of the personal connection Chinese feel to their New Year festivities, I share this thought from Laura Chou, who works in our Europe Outlet division in San Francisco:

    “The Chinese New Year always brings me back to my childhood growing up in Taiwan. On the actual day, us kids would dress in new clothes (usually with hints of red as a sign of good luck and prosperity), and we’d wait anxiously to ‘kotow’ towards our elders (a custom of kneeling and touching our heads to the ground to show respect).  In return, we’d receive red envelopes stuffed with money as a gesture for more prosperity in the upcoming year. 

    “Those celebrations always included extended family gatherings at my grandfather’s ‘siheyuan’ (a traditional Chinese residence of a courtyard surrounded by four buildings), with my cousins and I playing games in the courtyard.  We were raving bandits and firecracker daredevils, which involved staying as close to the firecrackers before they launched and not flinching – talk about a serious game of chicken! Happy Dragon Year!”

     

    January 23, 2012 12:18 PM by Cacky Rhoades, Gap Inc. Social Shopping Advisor

    Magic vs. Tragic Winners!


    Happy New Year, social shoppers!

    Our first Shop Yourself Social campaign has sadly come to an end and it’s time to announce the winners of our first ever Facebook photo contest,  “Magic vs. Tragic.”

    We had a lot of passionate participants and I had so much fun seeing all of the entries! But only two can win. So, with no further ado, your Magic vs. Tragic winners are...

    Drum roll please…

    · Magic - Andrea Torre Hennel! She entered a photo of her teething child and the “Magic” teething necklace that finally brought a smile to his face. Definitely Magic!

    · Tragic - Lovi Nmomma. She entered a photo of clothes she bought for her toddler nephew. What she thought was an amazing deal, actually made him cry. I guess clothes were not at the top of his wish list.

    Congratulations to both Andrea and Lovi on each winning the $5,000 cash prize!  

    Even though Shop Yourself Social is over, don’t stop sharing your shopping finds on our Facebook page or sending us your questions on Twitter. We had a great time answering your social shopping questions this holiday season and look forward to connecting with all of you more in 2012!

    For more tips from Cacky, be sure to visit www.ShopYourselfSocial.com or e-mail press@gap.com.

    Connect with Gap Inc. on Facebook and Twitter.

    January 20, 2012 10:42 AM by Corey Lyons

    A Few Words From a Veteran

    Gerald

    Banana Republic’s “Our Duty to You” program aims to help military veterans buy the right clothes to help set them up for job interviews. Last year, nearly 100,000 troops returned to the U.S. from serving in other countries.

    The job market, of course, remains a tough one. Unemployment among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is several points higher than the national average, and many veterans are having trouble transferring their skills into qualifications that attract employers.

    For some context around this, I spoke with Gerald Kapinos, a former veteran currently employed as a program manager with Student Veterans of America.

    Tell us a little about your background.
    I am an Air Force veteran and recent college graduate.  When I decided to separate from the military, I also decided to use my GI Bill and enter school full time.

    While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I struggled with the transition from the military to the civilian world.  For instance, I found it difficult to relate to my fellow classmates who were 18-19 years old, and I was 26, married, and had vastly different life experiences.  This frustration led me to a local peer-to-peer support of other student veterans at my school, called Vets for Vets, a chapter of SVA. 

    What did you learn through the group?
    I learned how to better relate to my classmates, and many of the tips and tricks of being a full time college student. Working with this group, I realized that the transition is not just a process, but a state of mind. 

    For example, when I entered the military, I had to transition into that society.  Its rules and mores were vastly different from the civilian society from which I came. 

    Basic training was the system designed to funnel people from different backgrounds into a single system. However, when I separated, I had to learn how to be a civilian again. Once I figured out that many of the concepts and principals in the military existed in the civilian world, just with a different vocabulary, I felt I could succeed. This is the same principal I applied to my job search, following graduation.

     What kind of real benefits do you see for a program like “Our Duty to You?”
    What I like to hear about programs like “Our Duty to You” is the increasing awareness of the civilian community to help us with our transition, such as what Gap Inc is doing here.  It may not seem important, but just like the military, there are dress codes in the civilian world. 

    We had to wear the appropriate uniform for the appropriate occasion. Your job interview is important because that is when your prospective employer forms their first impression of you. Remember what you would think when you saw someone wearing their uniform incorrectly? It’s initiatives like these that may, hopefully, make a difference for veterans making their own transitions.

    January 18, 2012 5:02 PM by The Blog Squad

    Why we Love This Rap Tribute to Plaid


    Most guys make love songs about relationships past… but these guys are pretty passionate about their plaid shirts. So much so, Michael Krivicka and Joe Cummings created a rap song and a viral video paying homage to the “vertical and horizontal lines.”

    It all started when they were sitting around with a group of friends and one of their girlfriends commented on how everyone was wearing a plaid shirt. Michael happens to own 18 of them.  So, with a 2-week holiday break from jobs in finance, music, and acting… the college friends put on their favorite shirts and wrote, rapped, and shot the video in New York’s West Village. 

    They got a few strange looks – because they had multiple costume changes – and it was freezing cold out. (Layering plaid against plaid was not an option.) 

    We obviously love this, because they show some love to Gap and Old Navy for being a main plaid supplier.

    And, we’re not the only ones who think this is funny.  The Huffington Post also thought other plaid-loving dudes would get a kick out of the musical tribute.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    January 12, 2012 10:32 AM by Sandy Wolf

    Finding the right (Gap) Fit


    This month, you’ll notice we’re giving some marketing love for our new GapFit collection in Gap stores.

    As the merchandiser of GapFit, I do know first-hand what a great line this is … because I’ve worn it and tested it out a lot already. See, our team doesn’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk -- and run, climb, yoga and really work out the products our designers create.

    Every single article of GapFit gear was tested and worn before getting final approval for production. I personally worked my way through our – take a breath here -- moisture-wicking Perform fabric Black Pants, as well as our seamless Motion tops as I prepped for my own wedding nuptials last year. I can tell you both efforts (the clothes, the wedding) were a success.

    We use feedback directly from wear-testers, including our own, to put out a superior product everyone can appreciate. In other words, everything goes through the ringer before we hang a tag on it, declaring it GapFit-worthy.

    Here’s another cool fact—our high-performance collection is half the price of our competitors. (Just saying.)

    But you don’t have to take my word for it—go test it out for yourself.

     

    January 6, 2012 4:40 PM by Gap Inc. Blog Squad

    Gap Inc. Gives Jobseekers Tools and Opportunity


    Today there was a glimmer of hope in the latest reports about job growth.  But, for teenagers, developing skills and finding opportunities can be particularly difficult even as our economy recovers.  That said, we think this will offer another glimmer of hope.

    Since our founders Doris and Don Fisher opened the first Gap store more than 40 years ago, Gap Inc. has given hundreds of thousands of young people their first job.

    And now, we’re working with the White House to further boost our commitment to helping even more young people become job and career ready. It’s through a job readiness initiative called Summer Jobs+.   

    Bobbi Silten, president of Gap Foundation is a member of the White House Council for Community Solutions.  The Council introduced a “Connecting Youth & Business” toolkit as part of the Summer Jobs+ initiative to help businesses launch or expand skills development programs like the ones we’ve had at Gap for years – For example This Way Ahead. 

    This toolkit was created by Gap Inc. in partnership with McKinsey & Company, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and the Taproot Foundation. Businesses, government, and nonprofits working together – Now that’s powerful!

    We could go on and on, but we’ll let you click on the links to learn more.                                            

     

    January 4, 2012 5:36 PM by Tess Roering, Athleta

    Why “Power to the She” Speaks to Me


    It’s 2012. Holiday break is over.  My mind is filled with Athleta store openings, meeting agendas, fitting in a long run, calling my mom, and returning a million emails.

    I glance at this ad and it reads:  Get born. Find a group. Find a job. Find the one. Have one. Have two. Roast a chicken. Cut bangs. Run. Breathe. Run. Relax. Run a 5K. Run a 10K. Crunch. Listen. Listen. Listen. Be loved. Look lovely. Do good. Give back. We kick asphalt. Power to the She.

    I never get tired of reading those words. They energize and inspire me. What sounds like a poem, is actually a print ad from Athleta’s new “Power to the She” campaign. 

    As we open new stores and learn more about our customers, one thing is clear  - The women who shop at Athleta are truly amazing. They love the extremely active and busy lives they lead, while balancing family, friends, exercise, work and everything in between.  They are crazy busy and they wouldn’t change a thing. 

    Their desire to keep reaching for more celebrates this and is what “Power to the She” is all about.  Here’s a video that tells the story in more than words.

    For our team at Athleta, this is a first.  We’ve never had a full marketing campaign that crosses over retail, web, catalog, advertising and social media.  We are particularly excited about integrating our partnerships with Girls on the Run  non-profit and Iron Girl.   I’d love to hear your feedback on our Facebook page.  Reading your posts will be another thing to add to my list of to-do’s. But, I can’t wait… Happy 2012!    

     

This is the place to get to know Gap Inc. and our brands a little better. Get in on the conversation -- we'd like to know you, too!

Archives

Categories

  • 1969
  • Asia
  • Athleta
  • Banana Republic
  • Banana Republic
  • Canada jobs
  • China
  • China jobs
  • Don Fisher
  • Doris Fisher
  • Facebook
  • GID
  • Gap
  • Gap
  • Gap Inc.
  • Gap Inc. Direct
  • Gap Inc. General Counsel
  • Gap Inc. recognition, social and global responsibility
  • International
  • Japan
  • Old Navy
  • Outlet
  • Piperlime
  • Piperlime
  • apparel
  • athletes
  • careers
  • careers at Gap Inc.
  • company culture
  • culture
  • diversity
  • global footprint
  • global locations
  • global recognition
  • international opportunities
  • internships
  • job opportunities
  • jobs
  • opportunities
  • shop
  • social responsibility
  • women