Gap's 1969 Jeans Stick to U.S. Denim

I recently returned from the Apparel Sourcing Show in Guatemala, where I ran into Mark D'Sa, head of sourcing in Latin America for Gap Inc.

The show last week was exciting, especially when a 4.9 earthquake shook up the event one morning. D'Sa revealed that most of Gap's stylish women's 1969 jeans are made primarily of U.S. denim and that 80 percent of them are cut and sewn in Mexico, with a few assembled in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. The rest are made in Asia.

He thought Gap would stick to Mexico and Central America for future production because it has worked out so well. "The region is known for its wash expertise and for the esthetic that can be produced here. It is easier for someone in this region to appreciate the esthetic required by the buyer and the designer and to be able to interpret it. Asia is getting it, but they still have to catch up with this region," he said. "There's more to it than fabric. There is fit, workmanship and the change in patterns. We started the pilot program with this region, and when it was time to scale up, it was easier to stay here."

So when you try on those 1969 jeans, remember that it's U.S. denim that is making the difference.

Mark D'Sa