GAP have announced that they are going to close a quarter of their stores in the US.
On Monday they confirmed that they will shut 175 stores, with 160 closing before January 2016. European stores are expected to close too, although a number has not been released. GAP is also eliminating 250 corporate jobs from the head office.
“Some of the stores that we’re currently in don’t represent the best of our brand,” Jeff Kirwan, global president for Gap, explained. “We want to make sure we don’t have so much of a disparity.”
In January GAP's creative director Rebekka Bay announced she was leaving and would not be replaced. At the time Jeff Kirwan said in a statement: “Now’s the time to intensify our customer focus and break through with a truly dynamic and integrated approach to building relationships with our customers. It’s a customer-first approach that reflects how people shop today.”
But remember, Kanye West has offered his services to the powers that be at GAP. He said: "One of my dreams was to be the head creative director of the GAP. I’d like to be the Steve Jobs of the GAP. Perhaps this is a bit of a demo tape. When I say Steve Jobs of the GAP, as I talk to the people at the GAP right now [leans into tape recorder], I’m not talking about a capsule. I’m talking about full Hedi Slimane creative control of the GAP is what I would like to do. And I can say this because it doesn’t conflict with my Adidas contract."
Well he did invent the leather jogging pant...