Five Black designers are redefining denim through a bold collaboration between Gap and Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) that pushes boundaries and celebrates individuality.
Launched on Feb. 13, 2026, the 20-piece collection is available on Gap.com and in select Gap store locations, according to a news release. The collection features styles ranging from $98 to $148.
The five designers — Daveed Baptiste of Daveed Baptiste, LaTouché of LaTouché, Igdaliah Pickering of IGDALYAH, Waina Chancy of Atelier Ndigo, and Nicole Benefield of Nicole Benefield Portfolio — each present a four-piece capsule. Every collection highlights the designer’s distinct approach to artistry, construction, and material innovation, the news release states. Together, they transform denim into wearable art that merges storytelling, heritage, craft, and individuality, it notes.
“Denim has always been central to Gap’s place in culture,” Mark Breitbard, president and CEO of the Gap brand, said in a statement. “This collection continues our legacy in denim by creating space for Black designers whose perspectives bring new meaning to one of fashion’s most iconic materials. It’s a reminder of why denim endures at Gap: It serves as a canvas for creativity, individuality, and self-expression.”
The campaign, photographed and directed by Ghanaian-American artist Joshua Kissi, positions denim as a universal fabric and a vehicle for cultural storytelling.
Baptiste, a Haitian-American designer, draws inspiration from ocean waves and Caribbean blues, incorporating fluid motion through embroidery and washes. LaTouché uses bold colors and brings inventive pleating and sculptural proportions to denim, while Pickering channels her Virgin Islands roots into turquoise-teal washes and surreal textiles. Chancy’s architectural designs feature Choublak (Hibiscus) flower embroidery with a focus on rich textures and patterns, and Benefield reimagines denim with utilitarian, menswear-infused essentials in monochromatic hues. Together, each designer brings a distinct voice to the Gap collaboration.
How Gap’s Collab Helps Harlem’s Fashion Row Break Barriers
The collaboration builds on a six-year partnership between Gap and HFR, supporting the organization’s mission to elevate up-and-coming Black and Brown designers and advance equity in the industry. Through educational programs, industry events, and over $1 million in investments via HFR’s nonprofit ICON360, it’s part of a broader effort to dismantle barriers facing Black designers and fashion programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The new collection is also available internationally in select markets, including Japan, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, per the news release.
“Denim evolves when new voices are given the opportunity to lead,” HFR founder and CEO Brandice Daniel said in a statement. “What makes this collaboration with Gap successful is the ability for designers to authentically reinterpret an iconic brand, while Gap connects them with new audiences. The resulting collection is strong, globally relevant, and built to resonate across international markets; that’s when a partnership truly works.”
