SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 20, 2009 – The classic American brand that started out in 1969 as one shop in San Francisco that sold jeans and records is celebrating its 40th anniversary today and tomorrow. To mark the special occasion, Gap will outfit the New York Stock Exchange trading community in its new 1969 Premium Jeans, ring the NYSE Closing Bell, and hold acoustic music performances at its more than 700 stores nationwide for employees and customers.
1200 NYSE Traders Wear Jeans to Work
On Friday, August 21, for the first time in New York Stock Exchange history, the trading floor community will dress down for business and wear Gap’s new 1969 Premium Jeans. Named in honor of Gap’s debut year, the 1969 Premium Jeans feature 12 core fits for women and men and were completely reworked and redesigned at every level with a major focus on fit, premium washes, and styles that accommodate different body types.
Later that day, Gap brand North America president Marka Hansen, along with board member Bob Fisher and fellow founding family members John Fisher and Bill Fisher will ring The Closing Bell remotely from the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.
"On August 21, 1969, Don and Doris Fisher opened a shop in San Francisco called Gap that sold jeans and records. Now Gap is one of the most iconic brands of our time and jeans have become the foundation of everyone’s wardrobe,” said Marka Hansen, president of Gap North America. “The fact that we’re dressing the New York Stock Exchange in jeans for the first time in history really speaks to the role that Gap has played in pop culture and in outfitting America in jeans for the past four decades.”
Gap Hosts Nationwide Simultaneous Acoustic Event
Tonight, on the eve of its anniversary, Gap is celebrating its employees and customers by hosting a nationwide simultaneous acoustic concert in its more than 700 stores nationwide from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. local times.
Local musicians will be performing at stores while shoppers check out Gap's all-new 1969 Premium Jeans collection, starting at $59.50. In addition to a free concert from local fan-favorites, shoppers will also receive special discounts including $20 off their favorite pair of jeans and 15 percent off their entire purchase.
“Music has always been an integral part of Gap – from musicians participating in our ad campaigns, to musicians performing in our stores, to the way music is infused into the very soul of Gap,” said Ivy Ross, EVP, Gap Marketing. "We are celebrating our legacy in music and jeans tonight with our live, in-store acoustic concerts from coast-to-coast. We are opening the doors at every Gap store in support of talented musicians and inviting shoppers to experience America's best premium jeans."
Gap is hosting special parties at Gap stores in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Nashville and Minneapolis featuring well-known artists including Cassidy, Marc Broussard, Lenka, Honey Honey, Single File, 2AM Club, Jace Everett and Parachute.
Each participating performer will receive a free pair of 1969 Premium Jeans and one lucky artist will win a recording session with music legend, John Alagia [www.johnalagia.com]. Gap is also awarding its more than 30,000 dedicated employees with 50 free downloadable tracks to be selected from songs submitted by each of the 700+ bands performing.
In celebration of its new 1969 Premium Jeans, Gap is encouraging fans to declare what they were born to do by participating in the interactive Facebook gallery at borntofit.com. Gap also launched the free StyleMixer iPhone App, a social shopping app enabling users to mix and match clothes, find inspiration, get advice and unlock special denim discounts when users are near a store.
Information on Born to Share Events:
Date: August 20, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM local time
Location: Check with your local Gap for participation
Details on Special Born to Share Events:
All events will take place on August 20 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. local time
New York City
Marc Broussard will be performing at:
680 5th Ave. [btw. 53rd and 54th]
New York, NY 10019
(212) 977-7023
Cassidy will be performing at:
1466 Broadway [@ 42nd Street]
New York, NY 10036
(212) 382-4500
Los Angeles
Lenka and Honey Honey will be performing at:
Grove at Farmers Market
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90036-6225
(323) 857-7234
San Francisco
Single File will be performing at:
Flood Building
890 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94102-3001
(415) 788-5909
Chicago
Parachute will be performing at:
555 N Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 494-8580
Nashville
Jace Everett will be performing at:
Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Road
Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 383-1145
Minneapolis
2AM Club will be performing at:
Mall of America
110 South Boulevard
Bloomington, MN 55425
952-854-1011
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brand names. Fiscal 2008 sales were $14.5 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.
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