Doris Fisher, the retail pioneer who helped launch the Gap clothing empire more than five decades ago, has passed away at age 94.
Fisher passed away Saturday while surrounded by loved ones, according to a Gap company representative who made the announcement Monday. No details were provided regarding the cause of her passing.
The retail journey began in 1969 when Fisher and her husband Don launched their business following Don’s difficulty finding properly fitting jeans during a shopping trip, the company reports. Their first location opened as a modest storefront on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, selling exclusively men’s Levi’s denim and music records.
From those humble beginnings, the Fisher brand grew into a worldwide retail powerhouse that transformed casual American style, popularizing everything from khaki pants and denim to basic tees and coordinated knitwear collections.
Today’s Gap empire includes additional brands Banana Republic and Old Navy, with combined annual revenue exceeding $15 billion across international markets.
Don Fisher passed away in 2009.
