Patrick Robinson Fired By Gap

Patrick Robinson, executive vice president of Gap Global Design for Adult and Body, has gotten the boot after four years with the brand, Women's Wear Daily reports.

The company's full press release reads as follows:

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today announced that Patrick Robinson, executive vice president of Gap Global Design for Adult and Body, is leaving the company, effective immediately.

"After spending the last three months in New York with the Creative team, I've made the decision to make a change within our Gap Adult design team," said Pam Wallack, head of the Gap Global Creative Center in New York.

The company said it will begin a search immediately. In the interim, Wallack will provide day-to-day management of the design teams, and has asked Jennifer Giangualano, senior vice president of Kids and Baby Design, to provide leadership and direction on Adult design during this transition period. Rosella Giuliani, who heads the brand's design office in Los Angeles, will continue to oversee Gap's 1969 denim product line, reporting directly to Wallack.

"Patrick has been a dedicated and passionate advocate for Gap brand and our customers over the last four years, and we're grateful for his hard work, especially related to our 1969 denim," said Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc. "Our leaders of the new Gap Global Creative Center are taking the necessary steps to compete and win around the world."

Gap Inc. has announced a number of organizational changes in recent months, including the introduction of Gap brand's Global Creative Center, directly aimed at improving performance in North America and fueling global growth. For more background on Gap Inc.'s global expansion and opportunity, read Gap Inc.'s global runway.

WWD called the news unsurprising, "considering Gap's problems in North America generating traffic and experiencing negative sales results. While the cash flow and the balance sheet have been strengthened, and international operations are showing promise, the performance in North America by Gap has been inconsistent."

We'd say it's pretty unsurprising given Robinson's track record -- he was fired from Perry Ellis and Paco Rabanne didn't produce his collections for three seasons, according to the New York Times. He also worked for Armani and Anne Klein.

Read the rest at WWD.com. And while we're at it, answer a question for us:

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Comments

[theyard]

11:52 AM on 05/18/2011

I have to give Patrick Robinson credit for what he did at the Gap. The clothes are much better today than they were 5 years ago. A few years back he brought real Japanese selvage denim to the Gap line. These were great fitting, high quality denim that cost $200+ at other retailers but the Gap was selling their authentic Japan selvage for $88.

Unfortunately the next year that same line of denim was replaced with Chinese sourced denim. A very cheap alternative. I'm guessing the bean counters at the Gap started making design decisions. Anyone who was lucky enough to get the real thing were thankful for an affordable entry into high end denim.

If Gap were to do more of that affordable, authentic clothes with high end fabrics I would buy all my clothes there.

[Johnna Escobedo]

01:29 PM on 05/10/2011

You know what the GAP needs now? A little love...sweet love.

http://imeanwhat.com/youcallthisfashion/what-the-gap-needs-now-is-love-sweet-love

[penndl]

11:56 AM on 05/09/2011

They make clothes for teen and pre-teen bodies. The designs are OK but the sizes are very restrictive.

[bluguy8]

09:36 PM on 05/08/2011

I always used to shop there. but the fit has gotten almost as bad as abercrombie. Narrow shoulders- tight sleeve openings .If they are going to continue and make cheap crap- it has to be cheap. otherwise , make things people want to wear. stop with the mens career clothes- they have Banana for that

[cityprole]

12:50 PM on 05/08/2011

Personally, I've never seen the point of the Gap or any of the rest of the clone-stores..they all sell the same boring stuff as each other, for around the same price, and their size range is extremely limited..
I'm still waiting for a store with an intelligent range of sizes, a bit of style in their offerings, and decent quality at a moderate price..but not holding my breath...

[OMGWTH]

06:17 AM on 05/08/2011

I've seen Gap go through so many iterations since the late 1960s. I understand that retail stores have to evolve if they are to survive, but I used to love the Gap for my basic T's and great-fitting jeans. I liked it when they moved into higher-fashion items, too, like nice jackets and trench-coats. It was always my go-to store for these things. The last time I went into the one at my local mall, I got confused. It might as well have been a Banana Republic. I did not see the distinction between the two; even the Gap prices were up there. What used to be a brightly-lit, rather utilitarian store was now toned down with mood-lighting, and the displays were much more elegant. I didn't buy anything there because I knew the jeans at Old Navy would fit as well and be half the price. So I went there.

[cameron d]

09:57 PM on 05/07/2011

If only their button up shirts could fit my shoulders without being far too large for my stomach. Their sweaters, polos and t-shirts are fine, the button ups are a mess on my frame.

[Laughert9]

12:29 AM on 05/07/2011

When gap started, it was about great basics. No one needs those now. Basics with some fashion is where it's got to be.

[christonabike]

12:12 AM on 05/07/2011

Wanna know what's wrong at the Gap? They don't cut sizes to fit half of their customers.

[Hursh Esquirts]

02:10 PM on 05/07/2011

what do you mean? people are just fatties now?

[christonabike]

06:10 PM on 05/07/2011

Fatties? Perhaps your attitude is more in line with the Gap's -- Any woman over size 16 or guy over 38 is just not worth dressing...

[bluguy8]

09:28 PM on 05/08/2011

Abercrombie is the same. Their clothes are cut so small , you need to be near dead to fit into them

[farmerjohn2112]

02:53 PM on 05/06/2011

Pat and I went to high school together in California and remains one of the nicest people I have ever known. If I know one thing about him, he'll land on his feet.

[Benjo333]

12:26 PM on 05/06/2011

Maybe they should bring back the cargo pant, again? Groan...

[VanTroi]

10:32 AM on 05/06/2011

They make really cute baby clothes so I was there a few weeks ago. I got a really nice jacket and my daughter got a great blouse. these items were on sale and are nice quality.

[sabelmouse]

10:42 AM on 05/06/2011

but who makes them and under what conditions ?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7932485454526581006#docid
the book goes into even more detail.

[Hursh Esquirts]

02:09 PM on 05/07/2011

stick to the topic dummy.

[temptxan]

10:12 AM on 05/06/2011

I buy my jeans through the Gap, but I do it online, not in the stores and only when they are on sale.

[crayola 08b]

05:50 PM on 05/06/2011

and then only with a special promo code, after midnight, hunched over in my bed, with the covers over me, just me and my laptop, and my credit card.

[aphextwin07]

09:46 AM on 05/06/2011

that's too bad, he was actually making the brand somewhat relevant in recent years. most of their stuff is still pretty cheap quality and should be avoided, but their pants/denim and their fits have been better than some competitors charging 5 or 6 times as much.

[aspenlady]

10:52 PM on 05/05/2011

The Gap has no raison d'etre. The three "A"s-- Aeropostal, American Eagle and Abercrombie dominate the space and, if you want to go more high end there's Armani Exchange and Banana Republic. The low end space is secure within Old Navy and the numerous big box retailers e.g. Target and Kohl's...there's no place for the gap's commodity clothing. The suggestion of licensing the lines to Kmart is a good one!