From icon to artefact: GapStudio elevates the white t-shirt onto the global fashion stage

Kendall Jenner made her Met Gala 2026 debut in a custom look signed by Zac Posen, Executive Vice President and Creative Director of Gap Inc.. Conceived and crafted in GapStudio, at the brand’s headquarters in New York, Jenner’s look transforms the Gap white t-shirt into a sculptural statement, inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is a defining moment for GapStudio, the highest expression of the brand’s creativity and craftsmanship, situated at the intersection of fashion, art and culture.

For this year’s edition of Met Gala 2026, with the theme “Costume Art” and dress code “Fashion is Art”, Posen created a design influenced by his early experience as an intern at the Costume Institute and his long study of the connection between fashion, art and the human body.

Inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the look explores the interplay between strength, femininity and freedom through movement and form. The sculpture’s drapery and sense of dynamism influence every element of the design, balancing fluidity and structure to create an ethereal, almost divine silhouette.

“Fashion becomes art when it interacts with the body. It is not separate from the wearer, the body becomes part of the work,” stated Zac Posen. “The look started from a white t-shirt and evolved through draping and manipulation into a sculptural, living form, shaped by movement, with a fluidity that evokes the energy of the sea that inspired the sculpture. By bringing GapStudio to the Met Gala, we demonstrate the power of Gap’s symbols on fashion’s most important stage, through elevated craftsmanship and style.”

This collaboration brings together the romanticism and refinement characteristic of Posen with Kendall Jenner’s sophisticated sensibility. The look is crafted from liquid-look cotton jersey, draped over a custom-molded leather corset. Conceived as a “second skin”, the base is constructed from the body, which becomes the very structure of the garment. The process goes beyond traditional draping, combining anatomical precision with couture techniques to create a work of art destined for the Met. Layers of jersey, satin chiffon and organza balance fluidity and structure, while the detachable wing-like extensions, decorated with a photographic print of the sculpture, bring the inspiration to life. Hand-dyed in tea to create depth and patina, the final composition evokes the classic “wet” drapery, in which the fabric highlights the body.

“GapStudio consolidates our role in fashion and culture and allows the Gap brand to be present in the moments that truly matter,” stated Mark Breitbard, President and CEO of Gap. “Gap can make the natural transition from Coachella to the Met Gala, remaining authentic in both contexts, reinforcing cultural relevance and product demand.”

Zac Posen’s red carpet look includes a reinterpretation of the iconic Gap jacket, crafted from leather and sculpted to reflect the musculature of a classic Greek figure. Inspired by sculptural busts, the look is hand-finished with a bronze patina, with subtle green tones, evoking the surface of an oxidised copper sculpture. Paired with dark indigo bootcut jeans, the look balances the mythical with the everyday, underlining Gap’s ability to translate cultural ideas through recognisable essential pieces.

Launched in April 2025, GapStudio represents the pinnacle of the brand’s design, blending tradition with innovation through limited edition collections and impactful cultural moments. Its presence at the Met Gala underlines Gap’s commitment to creativity and the arts, a heritage sustained by the Fisher family’s long-standing involvement in supporting cultural institutions and contemporary art. Through its participation in the Met Gala, Gap consolidates its position in the global fashion dialogue, at the intersection of design, culture and creativity.

Kendall Jenner Credits: Look: Custom GapStudio, design by Zac Posen Stylist: Danielle Goldberg Makeup: Mary Phillips Hair: Tamas Tuzes Jewellery: Buccellati Leather suppliers: SEKS (Will and Abel) 3D scanning/modelling: Locke Secondary modelling: PersonalFashion Graphic designer: Brian Carrol

Zac Posen Credits: Look: Custom GapStudio, design by Zac Posen Hair: Thom Priano Grooming: James Kaliardos