Gap enters China with four stores and online shopping

In Shanghai, Gap is opening its first flagship store on 11 November. This is a 1,140 square meter space in Hong Kong Plaza on Mid Huaihai Road, one of Shanghai's premier shopping high streets. A second flagship store, occupying two floors in the Venture Tech building on the premier Nanjing West Road, will open in the next several weeks.

In Beijing, Gap will open two stores in Beijing on 13 November. The first is a two-storied flagship store spanning 1,165 square meters in the APM Building on Wanfujing Street, and a second 1,800 square meter store in Chaobei Joy City, located in the eastern part of Beijing.

Each store will house all Gap collections, including Gap, Gap Kids, Baby Gap and Gap Body. An online retail store is also launching today at www.gap.cn, making Gap clothes immediately available to all customers throughout China.

"Gap is the first American retailer in China to offer a single style destination for the entire family. We are excited to introduce Gap's cool, modern American designs to Chinese consumers. I believe customers will be extremely pleased with the fit, quality and the affordable style of our clothes, including our newest and most successful product, the 1969 Premium Jean," said Redmond Yeung, president of Gap China.

Gap is opening the stores around the theme of 'Let's Gap Together', celebrating the coming together of China and the US, and the two country's shared spirit of creativity and individual expression. Y&R is the agency behind the campaign.

To commemorate this special occasion, world-famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz photographed a series of portraits pairing iconic Chinese and American leaders in their fields such as Zhou Xun, a Chinese actress who is devoted to sustainable development, and Philippe Cousteau Jr., an environmentalist and the grandson of Jacques Cousteau. These images can be seen in the stores and on outdoor advertising in each city.