Gap Celebrates 40 Years
August 20 2009 - 9:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
Iconic American Brand Outfits New York Stock Exchange Traders in
Its New 1969 Premium Jeans for the First Time in Exchange History,
Rings NYSE Closing Bell(R), and Holds Acoustic Music Performances
at Its More than 700 Gap Stores Nationwide for Employees and
Customers SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- 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
[http://www.johnaglia.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. Media Contacts: Katie O'Kane
Kim Terry SS+K for Gap Gap Marketing + PR 212-419-3374 415-427-4844
DATASOURCE: Gap Inc. CONTACT: Katie O'Kane of SS+K,
+1-212-419-3374, , for Gap; or Kim Terry, Gap Marketing + PR,
+1-415-427-4844, Web Site: http://gapinc.com/
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