Athleta's Spring collection

Athleta, the women’s sports apparel brand owned by the Gap Inc. group, has announced the opening of its first full-scale retail store on San Francisco’s renowned Fillmore Street.

The flagship offers Athleta’s collection of women's apparel for yoga, running, swim, gym, hiking and skiing – designed by and for female athletes -- as well as an array of other products for both athletic and everyday pursuits.

The 5,000 square foot store, located at 2226 Fillmore Street, showcases the brand’s inspirational imagery and headlines, as well as mannequins that have been molded from the body of real life athletes. Kiosks spread throughout the store also allow customers to connect directly to Athelta’s website for additional products, with complimentary tailoring included in every purchase.

“This store opening launches the next phase of our multi-channel growth plan for the Athleta brand,” said Toby Lenk, president of Gap Inc. Direct, the division which houses the Athleta brand. “What began as a catalog business 12 years ago, evolved into a successful online channel, and today marks another milestone for the Athleta brand.”

Founded in 1998, Athleta has become one of the premier brands in the rapidly growing women’s sports and active apparel markets. The company is headquartered in Petaluma, CA, and has nearly 200 employees. Athleta was acquired by Gap Inc. in September 2008 and is part of the Gap Inc. Direct division.