Doris Fisher, the co-founder of Gap Inc., has died at the age of 94.
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CEO Richard Dickson confirmed the news in a statement, noting that Fisher passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.
Fisher and her late husband, Donald Fisher, opened the first Gap store in 1969 on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco.
The original shop sold Levi's jeans alongside records and cassette tapes, a simple concept that would grow into a global brand.
Gap Clothing Pioneer Helped Shape Global Retail Landscape
From that single storefront, Gap expanded into a worldwide retail force that helped redefine American fashion.
The company later launched brands including Banana Republic and Old Navy, generating more than $15 billion in global sales.
"I'm writing to share the sad news that Gap Inc. co-founder, Doris Fisher, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at age 94," Dickson said in a statement on Monday.
"Many of us were fortunate to have known Doris personally, an extraordinary human being whose brilliance, quiet determination, and heart shaped everything from Gap Inc.'s indelible influence on fashion and retail to philanthropy and the San Francisco art scene."
Dickson described Fisher as a "true original," calling her a "path-breaking entrepreneur" who helped pave the way for women in business.
He added that details to celebrate her life will be shared "together as one Gap Inc. family."
Legacy Spans Fashion, Family, and Major Art Contributions
Born in 1931 in San Francisco, Fisher attended Stanford University before building a business that would span decades.
Forbes later named her among the 100 Most Powerful Women, recognizing her global impact.
More than 50 years after its founding, Gap operates around 3,570 stores worldwide. Including over 2,500 company-run locations and more than 1,000 franchises.
As of early 2023, the company employed roughly 95,000 people.
Fisher married Don Fisher in 1953, and the couple had three sons, Robert, William, and John. All have been involved in the family business over the years.
Don Fisher died in 2009.
In 2011, the couple were inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
Over her lifetime, Fisher assembled a collection of more than 1,100 works by 185 artists, many of which she loaned to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, now the largest modern art museum in the United States, following her contributions.
