Athleta is owned by Gap Inc, the American apparel retailer that acquired the brand outright in 2008. Athleta operates as a wholly owned division alongside Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.
Athleta designs its activewear at its base in San Francisco, California, but manufacturing happens overseas, with most production taking place in Vietnam.
This article covers who owns Athleta, where its clothing is actually made, its founding history, and how it fits inside the wider Gap Inc portfolio.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Athleta?
Athleta is owned outright by Gap Inc, a publicly traded American retailer listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GAP. Current collections are available on Athleta’s official website.
Gap Inc acquired Athleta in 2008 for roughly 150 million dollars, folding the previously independent catalog brand into its broader portfolio alongside Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.
The Fisher family, which founded Gap Inc in 1969, remains the largest ownership block, with brothers William and Robert Fisher each holding roughly 15 percent of shares.
Maggie Gauger, formerly head of Nike’s North America women’s business, became Athleta’s Global Brand President and CEO in August 2025, taking over brand leadership within the Gap Inc structure.
Where Is Athleta Made?
Athleta is not made in the USA. Most Athleta clothing is manufactured in Vietnam, consistent with the sourcing patterns used across Gap Inc’s other apparel brands.
Athleta designs its performance apparel at company offices in San Francisco, California, but does not operate its own factories.
Production runs through third party contract manufacturers overseas, and most garment tags carry an imported label rather than a domestic origin marking.
Athleta does not publish a detailed public list of its factories, so the most reliable way to confirm a specific item’s origin is to check the fabric and care label sewn into the garment.
When Was Athleta Founded?
Athleta was founded in 1998 by Scott Kerslake as a catalog based company selling performance clothing for women, based in Petaluma, California. More on the brand’s history is documented on Wikipedia.
The brand built an early following by working with real athletes to design gear for running, cycling, and yoga, and by using models of different ages and body types well before that approach became common across the apparel industry.
Athleta opened its first physical store in Mill Valley, California in 2011, three years after joining Gap Inc, and has since expanded to more than 250 stores across the United States and Canada. The brand became a certified B Corporation in 2018.
How Does Athleta Fit Into Gap Inc?
Athleta operates as one of four core Gap Inc brands, alongside the namesake Gap label, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. Within that portfolio, Athleta serves as Gap Inc’s dedicated women’s activewear line, positioned to compete directly with brands like Lululemon.
Gap Inc reported revenue of roughly 15.1 billion dollars in fiscal 2024 across all of its brands combined, with Athleta representing a meaningful but smaller share of that total compared to larger divisions like Old Navy.
Each Gap Inc brand operates with its own dedicated leadership and design team, and Athleta has maintained a distinct identity focused on women’s and girls’ activewear rather than the broader lifestyle positioning used by its sibling brands.
Is Athleta Good Quality?
Athleta is generally regarded as one of the better made options within the Gap Inc portfolio, with reviewers frequently comparing it favorably to Lululemon and Alo at a somewhat lower price point.
Leggings lines like Salutation and Elation earn consistent praise for holding compression and softness even after repeated washes.
Long term owners on Trustpilot and Thingtesting often describe Athleta pieces as durable enough to survive years of regular workout use without pilling or losing shape, and the brand’s size inclusive range, spanning XXS to 3X with petite, regular, and tall options, is repeatedly highlighted as a strength.
Complaints tend to focus on customer service and order fulfillment rather than the garments themselves, including slow shipping, unclear online versus in store pricing, and difficulty reaching a live representative.
Some specific items, like discontinued bra styles, have drawn criticism for straps that twist or fabric that loosens at the armpit over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Athleta
Is Athleta made in the USA?
No, Athleta clothing is not made in the USA. Most production takes place in Vietnam through third party contract manufacturers, though the brand’s design work is based in San Francisco, California.
Is Athleta owned by Gap?
Yes, Athleta is wholly owned by Gap Inc, which acquired the brand in 2008. Athleta now operates as one of Gap Inc’s four core brands alongside Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.
Who is the CEO of Athleta?
Maggie Gauger became Athleta’s Global Brand President and CEO in August 2025, joining from Nike where she led the company’s North America women’s business.
Is Athleta a B Corp?
Yes, Athleta became a certified B Corporation in 2018, meeting standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability as part of that certification.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.