Can Zac Posen Make the Gap Great Again?

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During the early 2000s, Zac Posen wasn’t just a designer for the elite; he embodied the A-list himself. His designs graced the red carpet, his social gatherings featured Negronis, and he was orbiting in the realm of high fashion events. New York’s fashion world adored him, with clients ranging from Claire Danes to Natalie Portman. Despite his young age, his reputation was already legendary, and his life revolved around uptown galas and downtown parties.

Currently: Posen, aged 44, resides at his workstation within Gap Inc.’s San Francisco headquarters. His responsibilities encompass design and marketing for a vast $15 billion assortment that comprises Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Gap. He took up this position in February 2024 as the executive vice president and chief creative officer. Although his days on the runway may be over, his transformation is merely beginning.

Posen has returned from Las Vegas, he shares, clad in his usual denim attire following a Field Leadership summit – a three-day gathering for regional store directors. He expresses a strong sense of pride and connection with our on-floor employees, a workforce that truly embodies the essence of the American dream.

Regardless of a few obstacles such as unstable sales figures, evolving consumer preferences, and intensified competition, Gap Inc. has experienced a resurgence since Richard Dickson became CEO in 2023. They’ve been working to refresh their brand, reestablish connections with customers, and regain fashion significance. Moreover, the addition of a high-profile figure like Posen, who boasts celebrity influence and red carpet credentials, has only boosted this progress – though it may not always be the most glamorous role he’s ever held. His days are now spent moving between various brand departments, offering opinions on store designs, advertising campaigns, and even complex supply chain issues. “This might be the hardest thing I’ve ever taken on,” Posen explains.

Some of Posen’s longtime associates in the fashion industry might have disapproved of his recent shift, but Posen, with his diverse resume that includes judging on Project Runway, writing a cookbook, and designing for Hugo Boss, remains unfazed. The era of lavish champagne expenditures and glamour on the runway has transitioned into corporate prudence and reduced spending. “I had financial obligations,” he admits, reflecting on his life after closing his own label in 2020. “I wasn’t sure how I would survive. This was a genuine struggle. A wedding dress here, a custom order there.” (One of those personal orders came from Ryan Murphy, who asked him to design gowns for the Black and White Ball in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans).

However, Dickson’s employment opportunity wasn’t merely a means of survival; it served as a significant source of inspiration. As Posen expresses, “We both believed that a brand is about storytelling, it’s about entertainment.” Gap represents the people’s brand, the human brand. His eagerness to join stemmed from this conviction.

Although Posen’s interpretation of personal branding may occasionally require patience, this wasn’t the case when he joined Gap. Shortly after his arrival, Da’Vine Joy Randolph requested a Met Gala gown. Posen designed an Elizabethan-inspired dress using Gap’s iconic 1969 denim, a project carried out by the company’s in-house team. “It represented an entirely fresh perspective on eveningwear,” he explained. “Definitely a more contemporary take. A true expression of Americana.

Following another notable incident, Anne Hathaway’s stylist Erin Walsh requested a dress for an upcoming Bulgari jewelry event in Rome. Designer Posen took a standard white shirt from Gap and creatively reworked the collar and shoulder, transforming it into a stunning floor-length gown. Worn by Hathaway, this innovative design sparked widespread fascination on the internet. “It was a pivotal moment,” he explained, highlighting its role in generating attention and excitement.

The “Anne dress” transformed into the $158 Poplin Maxi Shirtdress, which led to the creation of GapStudio, a division within Gap dedicated to capsule collections that fall between seasonal releases. This collection is frequently endorsed by Posen’s celebrity friends, as seen at the 2025 Met Gala where Laura Harrier wore an unexpected ensemble consisting of a corset shirt, billowy sleeves, and wide-legged satin pants, made from four existing Gap pieces. Not every celebrity outfit made it to the market, such as Cynthia Erivo’s hoodie gown and Demi Moore’s chiffon number, which remained unique pieces. However, Timothée Chalamet’s ensemble for the Oscar season – a satin jacket and matching jeans – was the first unisex release from GapStudio, with Posen commenting, “Timmy was a moment.

Today, as a game enthusiast, I’m part of GapStudio, now a thriving fifth division within the larger Gap Inc. However, this isn’t why they initially brought me on board! But it has allowed us to tap into a more style-savvy clientele. We’re blending ideas, if you will. Working at a publicly traded company means we need to adapt quickly, staying in tune with the ever-evolving cultural landscape, which I refer to as the ‘speed of culture.’

Now, his name is once again being considered for prestigious positions at leading European design studios. Yet, he’s not eager to return to the runway just yet. When asked about showing four times a year, he expresses his preference for a more personal touch: “I prefer dealing with authentic humans, dressing them in everyday attire.

Today’s story was featured in the July 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter periodical. Consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-07-09 20:25