Gap Maternity

Shop Gap Maternity

Founded in 1969 by a Don and Doris Fisher, a husband and wife from San Francisco, the original mission of Gap, Inc. was to sell a wider selection of Levi's jeans than consumers would be able to find at department stores. The duo marketed their stores to members of the so-called "Generation Gap," who were starting to make jeans into a more mainstream article of clothing. Low prices and fully stocked inventory were the keys to success for Gap early on, and the chain became so popular that it had spread to 21 states within just five years. Soon, the company started to manufacture and distribute its own clothing lines in addition to selling Levi's.

In the 1980s, Gap transitioned to new leadership and started to undergo a massive rebranding. Its stores were cleaned up to look more mainstream and the company finally stopped selling any apparel that wasn't made by its own private label. Gap also diversified by opening niche stores like GapKids and babyGap. The brand's period of growth came to a grinding halt in the early 2000s, and it has been forced to close a number of stores due to economic troubles. Still, the company continues to have a major presence around the world, with stores at almost every major shopping mall in the United States. The Gap Maternity line was launched in 2001 as an online exclusive, and it continues to be primarily sold via the company's website.

Women's Merchandise

Products

Gap Maternity makes sure that you can stay fashionable and trendy while you're expecting, with a huge selection of outfits for every stage of your pregnancy. In tops, you'll find tees, v-necks, tunics, fashion blouses, button-downs, camis, tanks, and more--most of which have plenty of room to expand as your belly grows. Sweaters and cardigans are loose and comfortable, and they are designed to keep you warm without being too restrictive. A number of nursing tops are also available to make life easier when you first bring your little one home.

The selection of skirts and dresses from Gap Maternity ensures that you'll have an outfit for every occasion. Maxi dresses, sundresses, and t-shirt dresses are perfect for everyday wear, while pencil skirts and pointe dresses are ideal choices for wearing to the office. Jeans are available with several different elastic panel choices. Elastic Insert is perfect for the beginning of your pregnancy, when you just need a little extra room. The Ultimate Panel keeps jeans looking completely normal in the back while giving you room to grow in the front. The Full Panel, Demi Panel, and Front Demi Panel are all similar to options you'd find from other maternity brands, but their support is still excellent. Gap Maternity also offers cords, shorts, capris, khakis, and slacks. The GapBody intimates line has plenty of options for pregnant women, including sleepwear, bras, and panties specifically designed for moms-to-be.

Swap.com's Rating of Gap Maternity

Gap has long established a reputation as one of the most trustworthy mainstream/luxury clothing manufacturers, but the company has really outdone itself with its maternity line. Clothes are extremely fashionable--many of them don't even look like maternity options--and everything is manufactured with durability and comfort in mind. Though Gap clothes tend to be on the more expensive side, Gap Maternity actually offers a number of great deals so that you can fill out your wardrobe without breaking the bank. For its sheer number of quality options, we give Gap Maternity 5 stars out of 5.