Zac Posen, a renowned fashion designer known for his glamorous creations worn by Hollywood's elite, chats about his new role as creative director of Gap Inc. He discusses redefining success and the importance of personal fulfillment in his journey. Posen shares insights into revitalizing iconic brands like Gap and Old Navy, emphasizing creativity and storytelling as keys to re-engaging customers. He reflects on what he learned about the fashion industry through challenges and his mission to inspire a larger audience.
Zac Posen emphasizes the importance of redefining success through personal fulfillment and the ability to inspire creativity in others.
During the pandemic, Posen rediscovered his creative roots, which reignited his passion for draping and design beyond commercial success.
Posen's vision for Gap Inc. integrates creativity with business strategy to create a sustainable model that resonates with modern consumers.
Deep dives
Zach Posen's Creative Evolution
Zach Posen reflects on his journey in the fashion industry, highlighting the transition from being a celebrated designer to the creative director at Gap Inc. After shuttering his own label, he realized that success is not merely dictated by accolades but by the ability to inspire creativity in others and foster meaningful connections. This shift in perspective accentuated his belief that true happiness and success intertwine with creativity and human connection. Posen emphasizes that, for him, creativity is as vital as basic needs, shaping his understanding of success in a more profound and personal way.
Rediscovery During the Pandemic
During the pandemic, Posen took the opportunity to reassess his place in the fashion industry and rediscover his creative roots. As society locked down, he explored new avenues of expression, including filming outside in Central Park, which reignited his passion for draping and design. This experience served as a reminder of the joy found in creation without the pressures of commercial success, fostering a sense of freedom and exploration. It was a pivotal moment that led to a clearer understanding of what truly mattered to him in his career and life.
The Vision for Gap Inc.
Posen's vision for Gap Inc. is centered around revitalizing the brand's creative identity and reconnecting it with cultural relevance. During his initial meeting with Richard Dixon, the CEO, they discovered a shared goal of infusing creativity back into the company, thus paving the way for a new era for Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. Posen envisions these brands as canvases for self-expression, where storytelling and human connection are central to their refreshed identities. This transformative approach aims to inspire a diverse audience while driving a deeper understanding of what the brands stand for in today's fast-evolving retail landscape.
Balancing Creativity and Business
Posen acknowledges the importance of balancing creativity with the business aspects of the fashion industry for long-term success. He emphasizes that being an effective leader involves not only setting a creative vision but also ensuring that each brand's operations support that vision at scale. Through collaboration with various brand leaders, he is focused on establishing clear brand identities and ensuring they resonate with modern consumers. This integration of creative vision with business strategy aims to create a sustainable model that appeals to both new and existing customers while staying adaptive to changes in the industry.
Advice to Emerging Creators
Posen offers heartfelt advice to young creators entering the fashion industry, emphasizing the need for perseverance and lifelong commitment to creativity. He encourages them to embrace the unpredictability of their journey, reminding them that they have the power to make the world a more beautiful place through their artistic expression. Understanding the business side of fashion is equally crucial, as it allows for the respectful integration of art and commerce. Ultimately, being aware of their role as both creators and brand ambassadors is vital for navigating their careers effectively in an ever-evolving fashion landscape.
Zac Posen burst onto the fashion scene in the early 2000s, gaining acclaim for his glamorous designs and dressing Hollywood's elite. After nearly two decades, Posen closed his label in 2019, finding himself at a crossroads that eventually led to a meeting with Richard Dickson, the new CEO of Gap Inc., and the chance to join the company as creative director. Now, he's on a mission to bring cultural relevance and excitement back to brands like Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta.
“Within five minutes [of meeting Dickson], I knew that there was something very special. It was a cosmic moment where there was like a magic connection, where I saw that I had met my dreamer,” Posen says.
This week on The BoF Podcast, BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed sits down with Posen to explore his journey of redefining success, his transformative role at Gap Inc., and his vision for the future of fashion.
Key Insights
Closing his eponymous fashion label forced Posen to reevaluate how he defined success, shifting his focus from external achievements to personal fulfilment and creative expression. "Success for me is about being able to inspire a larger public, to be able to work within my own creativity and to use that and what I represent to help a larger public be in touch with their own creativity” he says. “To me, creativity is as essential as sleeping and eating and everything else wonderful in life."
Posen found new creative inspiration through returning to his roots of draping and garment creation. “I was back on a mannequin … and just expressing and sculpting in space, it felt exciting,” he shares, describing the joy of reconnecting with hands-on creative work in his father’s studio, the same place where his journey in fashion began. “It felt like a full circle moment.”
As creative director of Gap. Inc, Posen is working to modernise brands like Old Navy and Gap by emphasising storytelling, redefining brand identities, and making subtle evolutions that reignite consumer interest. "Building a brand is about being part of the cultural conversation and moving at the speed of culture and actually being able to help move culture forward,” he says.
Posen advises young designers to be patient, embrace the balance between art and commerce, and appreciate the opportunity to inspire others. “Creativity is a lifelong pursuit … You can't foresee the path and where it will take you,” he says. “If you are able to work in this industry, to be able to work in a creative field and … understand that fabulous, amazing, magical pendulum that has to be in balance, you are so lucky and so fortunate.”
