Gap turns 50 with two new collections

Gap has unveiled two new denim collections to mark its 50th birthday.

The US fashion label is taking stock of its heritage with the launch of its new ‘Denim Through the Decades' and ‘1969 Premium' collections, inspired by key designs pulled from its own archives. The launch follows the release of a special ‘It's Our Denim Now' campaign rolled out in July.

Denim Through the Decades offers a snapshot of Gap's personal history, and spans menswear and womenswear pieces including jeans, tops, and jackets. Highlights include flares in shades of bright blue indigo and burnt orange corduroy from the 1970s, wide leg carpenter fit jeans from the 1980s and high-waisted, tapered jeans in 100% cotton from the 1990s. Original details such as shank buttons and rivets have been respected and replicated.

Meanwhile, the new 1969 Premium Collection brings Denim Through the Decades into the present day, featuring denim and non-denim styles for adults, kids, and babies. The series includes Japanese selvedge denim styles, as well as oversized and pleated denim jackets, a high-rise denim skirt, the boiler suit, and a selection of Western shirts. The brand has also released a rainbow assortment of 50 t-shirts celebrating its landmark anniversary.

The first Gap store opened its doors in San Francisco in 1969, after the brand was co-founded by Don and Doris Fisher.