Bridging the Gap
July 5th 2010 01:04
At long last, overseas companies are beginning to see what us Aussie chicks have known forever: that yes, Australia is a viable fashion market and yes, we are worth investing in! The London-based fashion empire that is Topshop got a look-in on the streets of Sydney late last year, and in just a couple of months' time we'll be welcoming iconic American label Gap to our friendly shores.
Launched in 1969, Gap - commonly referred to as 'The Gap' - started out as just a small-time San Francisco jeans store, but since then its popularity has soared. It now has more than 3,100 outlets worldwide and, from the looks of it, will keep expanding as it gains more and more loyal customers from around the globe.
I first discovered Gap in 2004, while I was taking a much-needed University break by working as a ski instructor in California. Our motley crew of Aussies, Kiwis and Americans would hit the coast every couple of months to spend what little cash we had saved in the mega-malls that populated Southern Cali, and it wasn't long before this particular store drew me in.
The clothes are a unique combination of being fashion forward yet down-to-Earth - they're neither plain nor pretentious, but more importantly, they're affordable and they last the distance. If they weren't so uniquely American, you could almost say that they have an Australian element to them: they're practical, comfortable, and they don't seem to be trying too hard to impress. Such is the cool appeal; it appears to be all natural and this is an image that is perfect for Aussie consumers.
And although it may have taken them more than forty years to spot the buying potential of the Australian public, I won't be holding it against them! The first store will open in Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre next month, with the second one opening in Sydney in October. For more info, and to sign up for special offers, check out the website at www.gapaustralia.com
Easy-wear denim, American classics and a trendy yet relaxed aesthetic make up Gap's signature style.
Launched in 1969, Gap - commonly referred to as 'The Gap' - started out as just a small-time San Francisco jeans store, but since then its popularity has soared. It now has more than 3,100 outlets worldwide and, from the looks of it, will keep expanding as it gains more and more loyal customers from around the globe.
I first discovered Gap in 2004, while I was taking a much-needed University break by working as a ski instructor in California. Our motley crew of Aussies, Kiwis and Americans would hit the coast every couple of months to spend what little cash we had saved in the mega-malls that populated Southern Cali, and it wasn't long before this particular store drew me in.
The clothes are a unique combination of being fashion forward yet down-to-Earth - they're neither plain nor pretentious, but more importantly, they're affordable and they last the distance. If they weren't so uniquely American, you could almost say that they have an Australian element to them: they're practical, comfortable, and they don't seem to be trying too hard to impress. Such is the cool appeal; it appears to be all natural and this is an image that is perfect for Aussie consumers.
And although it may have taken them more than forty years to spot the buying potential of the Australian public, I won't be holding it against them! The first store will open in Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre next month, with the second one opening in Sydney in October. For more info, and to sign up for special offers, check out the website at www.gapaustralia.com
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