Zac Posen's post-9/11 reckoning

At 20, Posen showed his first designs just a month after September 11th, questioning whether making dresses mattered in that moment. His debut runway show followed in February 2002.

“What am I doing making dresses and trench coats? What is this about?”

From novelty to standard practice

Designer collaborations evolved from rare events like Marc Jacobs with Takashi Murakami at Louis Vuitton to routine partnerships between independent designers and mass retailers. This year alone brought Zara with Willy Chavarria, Eckhaus Latta with J.Crew and Mango, and Victoria Beckham with Gap.

Posen's mission at Gap Inc

As executive vice president and creative director at Gap Inc., Posen decided to use Old Navy's massive platform to uplift American designers. He sees it as a responsibility to highlight great talent and support the resilient American fashion industry.

“a responsibility for creativity and expression, and to highlight great talents”

Altuzarra's New York Fashion Week moment

Posen selected Joseph Altuzarra for the fall collaboration after Altuzarra showed one of the best collections at New York Fashion Week. The two designers bonded over building their businesses with their mothers and reconnected at an industry event.

“We had a short but meaningful conversation that I always remember”

Accessible intelligence and chic attitude

Posen praised Altuzarra for understanding the everyday consumer while bringing approachable intelligence and chic attitude to fashion. The collection features Altuzarra signatures like floral dresses and versatile parkas, plus new clothing for girls.

Creating something necessary, not superfluous

Both designers are aware that collaborations can seem frivolous, but Altuzarra believes fashion should exist at every price point. He wanted to create something exciting and emotional that felt necessary in the retail landscape.

“I think there is so much out there in the market, that you want to create something that feels necessary”

American fashion's underdog story

Fashion has undergone digital transformation, wholesale market shifts, and accelerated trend cycles via social media. Altuzarra sees American designers as pragmatic and optimistic, turning what was once scoffed at into what global customers now value.

“There's an interesting story about how American fashion has endured and has conquered”

Launch date set for September 30th

The Old Navy and Joseph Altuzarra collection officially launches online and in select Old Navy stores on September 30th, bringing designer-quality pieces to mass-market retail.