The Gap was founded in 1969 by Doris and Donald Fisher in Ocean Avenue, San Francisco. The couple invested $63,000 into the company, which recorded an astounding $2 million in sales in just two years. The retailer soon began to aggressively pursue expansion in the local market, managing 25 outlets by 1973. The decades that followed would see the company expand under the leadership f the Fisher family into international markets and establish itself as a powerhouse in the fashion industry.
Today, The Gap controls five international brands – Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta and Intermix – and manages over 3,165 stores in 90 countries, with an additional 459 stores operating under franchise agreements. Although the Fisher family is no longer active in the day-to-day running of the company, they maintain a 44 per cent stake.