Banana Republic’s Simon Kneen: My Foundation in Design

Simon Kneen is Creative Director and Executive Vice President of Design at Banana Republic. He recently returned to the U.K. to receive a Doctor of Arts honoris causa from his alma mater, Kingston University of London, in recognition of his 30-year commitment and success in the fashion and design industry. Simon reflects here on his time as a design student at Kingston and what he means by “giving through design.”

As I walked around the campus of Kingston University, the feelings of excitement, intrigue and hope about what the fashion industry could be to me returned, and filled my body with energy.

First, to ground you in where the fashion world was at time I was a university student – there was no web, no blogs, no laptops and believe it or not, not even a fax machine. Apart from the very few magazines, there was nothing available about Fashion other than its history. At Kingston, we were all hungry, actually starving for information that really didn't exist.

We knew about Saint-Laurent, Dior, but if we wanted to know about the newest design icons of the day like Kenzo, Claude Montana and Thierry Mugler, we had to travel from London to Paris where we would stay in the flea-bitten hotels, and beg, steal and borrow to get into any of the Paris fashion week shows to see the latest in design. That hunger and curiosity for information stays with me today and my obsessive sense of discovery keeps me perpetually in motion, always looking forward.

During that time, fashion was never so alive, exciting – and changing. Designers were not only creating amazing clothes on the runway but creating Lifestyle brands off the runway through fabulous stores that reflected the “life to live” in the clothes they were designing. This changed retail and how designers were thinking of design.

For me, it changed my perspective on the fashion industry. I will never forget the excitement that I felt in this period as I witnessed the frontiers of fashion fall away, and the sky opening up to endless opportunities for designers like me to give people more than just beautiful clothes.

I am lucky to say that this world of fashion has naturally become my professional home. Here my job reaches beyond just creating clothes and accessories. As Creative Director of Banana Republic, I can reach the lives of many by bringing quality, style and hopefully something that will make their lives a little better.

I am often asked about my so-called success, my design mantra and what inspires me. For me, it has never been about an ambitious master plan toward success, or designing everything perpetually under a singular rigorous aesthetic note until you get it right or understood. I have simply followed an instinctive impulse to give. Design is really about another art form all-together – the Art of Giving.

I believe that that road toward something really good, or dare I say great, is that all design – not just Fashion design – is well beyond creativity and innovation, art and culture and doing all-nighters to get your project done on time. I really believe that you have to give generously through your design the very best of what you can invent. You have to believe that everything you do is going to make the world – maybe in some very small way – a better place to be.

Photo courtesy of Christina Lilly Photography

The Don Fisher Clubhouse: Our commitment to youth

Editor’s Note: Rob Connolly, President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, spoke to Gap Inc. employees recently to help announce the dedication of a new Clubhouse to Gap Inc. co-founder Don Fisher. Below is a portion of his speech.

Over six years, I had the good fortune to really get to know Don Fisher, and enjoyed my time with him tremendously. He understood the importance of being a leader in his community.

I can’t tell you exactly what it was about at-risk youth that motivated Don but it was certainly more than just providing them a safe place to go after school.  I suspect what motivated him was the pure frustration of watching human potential wasted.  Don understood “value”, we all know that, but I love the fact that he saw significant value in children who others were very willing to write off and, too often, happy to forget.

Don was just 36 years old when he got involved with our organization.

More remarkable than his early start was the fact that Don, a prominent American and international business icon, remained on the local Boys & Girls Club board until the end of his life.

He had a keen understanding that his involvement brought prominence and credibility to our organization, the field of youth development, and the cause of supporting at-risk youth.  This was very important to us.

His longevity as a volunteer for the Club also displayed that he understood the importance of committing to a cause and an organization long-term.

Years ago, I talked to Don about naming a Clubhouse after him. He liked the idea but was too modest to fully embrace it.

After talking with his sons over the past 18 months --- and clearing it with Doris --- we decided it was the right time to honor Don for both his commitment to at-risk youth and his dedication to service and philanthropy.

The future Don Fisher Clubhouse will change the lives of thousands of young people. We could not be more excited to partner with Gap Inc. and Gap Foundation to make this important project a reality.  I truly believe it would have made Don proud to know we’re continuing his good work and making his beloved hometown a better place for generations of young people.

Gap Inc. and Gap Foundation are collectively donating $1 million, comprised of employee donations, corporate matching dollars, and a Gap Foundation grant.

Getting and keeping a job: ‘This Way Ahead’ expands to Boston

Raised in Boston, in a large family where money was tight and resources few, Karen Losi credits the Gap job she landed at age 16 as a life-changer.

So it was a no-brainer when she was offered the opportunity to volunteer and help launch Gap Inc.’s signature youth mentoring program, This Way Ahead, in Boston.

“I jumped at the chance,” said Karen, a 15-year employee and Gap general manager in Burlington, MA.  “I was lucky to find Gap early on. It shaped me.”

Karen is one of eight Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic employee volunteers who are leading Gap Foundation’s job readiness program for 35 Boston-area underserved teens.

In March, the program began in Boston, in a partnership between Cambridge Housing Authority, Gap Foundation and Gap and Old Navy stores. (The program already exists in New York City and San Francisco).

In weekly classes, the Boston youth, 16 to 18 years old, are coached in what it takes to get and keep a job.  Sessions include topics like interviewing skills, goal setting and conflict resolution.

And from the 35 current enrollees, a dozen or so will be hand-picked for highly coveted, paid internships within the stores.

“These kids need these jobs. They want these jobs,” Karen said. “Some are making money for their families, and some are paying their way through school.”

One graduate of the San Francisco program affirmed its value.  

“When I was first involved with them, I was very shy – I wouldn’t even take my jacket off,” said Old Navy employee Nelson Campos, 19. “I didn’t know anything about the workplace – what rules to follow. This Way Ahead really opened my eyes.”

More than 1,000 youth have participated in This Way Ahead since its inception. Of those who interned, 75 percent have been offered permanent part-time jobs. 

Gap Inc. plans to expand This Way Ahead to two additional cities, for a total of five, by 2015.

We Are Committed: A new Gap Inc. website

We know that many of you have questions or concerns about our work in Bangladesh and work that Gap Inc. does around the world. While we didn’t operate in the building that tragically collapsed in Bangladesh last month, we’re committed to worker safety and understand the urgency to make lasting, meaningful change.

To help answer your questions and have the chance to hear from you, we’ve launched a new website, WeAreCommitted.com. There, you can find information and updates on our work with Bangladesh, as well as the other communities where we live and work, and you can share your thoughts with us, as well as ask questions.

Thanks for your interest – we look forward to hearing from you.

How these students changed my life

In honor of National Volunteer Month, we are highlighting employees that lead volunteering for their store or team, and the partnerships they have formed with local organizations to create change in their community.

This is the second of two volunteer-focused posts.

Standing outside of Notasulga High School in Notasulga, Alabama, all you see is an old, run-down school building.

It runs on a minuscule operating budget, barely able to afford the basic necessities. With these financial struggles, students must have fundraisers to finance after-school activities and sports.

I was first introduced to the school when a private donor came into the Gap looking to buy school uniforms. Our store, in Auburn, reached out to our district and found the 300-plus items the kids needed. And when I walked into the school for the first time to distribute the uniforms, my life was forever changed.  

I met the most amazing children who, despite their circumstances and hardships, had a passion for learning and true love for their school. I decided then and there that I would make it my mission to positively impact their lives.  

I returned to my store, shared the story, and with the help of my coworkers, our community partnership began.

For our first event, we collected school supplies during our fall Friends and Family event. Our Gap Auburn family, customers and employees collected more than 20 boxes filled with backpacks, pens, paper, and supplies. The children and teachers were so grateful for the donation that they organized an entire school program around it. (Click here to see video of a student-led rap song thanking Gap.)

Since then, we’ve started a clothing closet, held a fashion show with donations benefitting the school (the photo above features the show models), collected boxtops, and adopted 18 children for Christmas. 

We have started a volunteer website and are promoting it on the local university campus. Our largest event to date will take place in August when we host a citywide event to collect back to school supplies accompanied by a fundraiser ball.

Every time we walk through the halls, we hear, “thank you, Gap” from every student we pass. 

These children have put their imprint on all of our hearts and created a partnership based on love.