GapKids and Ellen DeGeneres launch collection

TV personality Ellen DeGeneres, who recently launched her own fashion and lifestyle brand, has collaborated with GapKids on a limited edition apparel collection and campaign that encourages “girls everywhere to be themselves”.

The collection, which is available in 25 markets around the world including the UK, US, Canada, China and Japan, consists of Gap staples for girls, as well as a selection for boys and adults, and features two pieces of iconography, the lightning bolt, a symbol of empowerment, and the speech bubble, a symbol of self-expression.

The 70-piece collection aims to encourage kids to express themselves with self-customisable clothing and accessories that they can decorate freely using fabric or chalk markers. The key pieces include the graphic speech bubble and lightning bolt T-shirts, the girl’s quilted speech bubble bomber jacket, as well as the adult zip-up sweater. Other pieces in the collection consist of outerwear, sweatshirts, leggings, dresses, T-shirts and accessories, with prices ranging from 9.95 to 29.95 pounds.

"Partnering with Ellen DeGeneres represents a collaboration between two American style icons," said Jeff Kirwan, Gap global president. "Ellen has become a global symbol for inspiring her audiences and fans to take pride in who they are. This is a natural fit with the heritage of Gap, which has long stood for encouraging individualism. We are excited to launch this collection and at the same time come together to champion girls and boys to realise their potential.”

Ellen DeGeneres partners with GapKids

Commenting on the collaboration, DeGeneres added: "I know from my own experience that nothing makes you feel better than being who you are and celebrating what makes you unique. I think if we shine a light on real girls doing incredible things, that'll encourage other girls and boys to do incredible things.

"This opportunity to partner with Gap and my new lifestyle brand, ED, is the perfect way to celebrate girls just for being who they are; and to encourage them to unleash their passions; whether it's math, soccer, singing, dancing, or simply singing while dancing in their bedroom.”

To launch the collection Gap has teamed up six young girls, Alexey, Relz, Ryann, Bellatreas, Torrae and Asia, who are all between the ages of 7 and 12, who excel at skateboarding, drumming, robotics and entrepreneurialism, by being true to themselves, regardless of naysayers or outdated stereotypes. The campaign will span across print, outdoor, mobile, direct, social, in-store and digital.

The GapKids x ED collection is available now in 25 markets worldwide and a portion of the proceeds will go to various local charities including, Care in the UK and Japan, and Girls Inc. in North America.

Image: GapKids x ED