The Gap, Inc. is a renowned clothing retailer headquartered in San Francisco, California. Alongside Gap, the corporation encompasses other popular brands such as Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Piperlime. Founded by Donald and Doris Fisher in 1969, Gap initially capitalized on the prevailing “counter culture” trend of that era by selling Levi’s jeans and LP records targeted towards the youth market. Despite starting with a modest capital of $63,000, the company experienced rapid growth, with sales exceeding $2 million by 1970 and the opening of a second store in San Jose. By 1973, Gap had expanded to 25 outlets and established a nationwide presence.

In 1974, the company ventured into selling its own private-label clothing, marking a significant milestone in its history. Subsequently, in 1983, The Gap, Inc. acquired Banana Republic, a small business offering safari-themed clothing, and successfully transformed it into the upscale apparel store widely recognized today. To cater to the lower-priced segment of the retail clothing market, the company launched Old Navy in 1994. In 2006, it expanded its product offerings by introducing the shoe retailer Piperlime and, in 2009, acquired Athleta, an athletic apparel retailer for women.

Presently, The Gap, Inc. operates over 3,100 stores across the globe, spanning countries such as the United States, United Kingdom (where the first international store was opened), Canada, China, France, Ireland, Japan, and Italy. Additionally, franchise retail outlets can be found in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Known for its high-quality clothing, memorable advertising campaigns, and social activism, The Gap, Inc. participated in the Product Red project, committing to donate 50% of its Product Red profits to global causes. Through this initiative, the company has contributed over $170 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria by 2011.

Furthermore, Gap has collaborated with Inter Parfums, Inc. to develop fragrances for its brand and Banana Republic. The company introduced its first set of Gap-branded unisex scents, including Grass, Earth, Day, and Heaven, in 1994. Since then, The Gap, Inc. has expanded its fragrance line, offering new scents for both men and women, as well as accompanying body care products. Currently, they have a collection of 33 perfumes in their fragrance base, with collaborations from esteemed perfumers such as Marypierre Julien, Gil Clavien, IFF, Patricia Choux, David Apel, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, and Jean Claude Delville.