Athleta appoints new design head

Gap Inc.-owned activewear label Athleta has named Tania Flynn as its new head of design, according to a report.

Flynn will report directly to Athleta CEO Chris Blakeslee, according to the Business of Fashion.

Flynn joins Athleta from Nike, where she served as vice president and creative director of apparel design, overseeing product design for the women’s, men’s, kids and accessories categories. Part of  19-year tenure at the U.S. sportswear giant, Flynn was also involved in the global sport, footwear and innovation departments, and has helped develop external collaborations.

“Welcoming Tania as our head of design sends a clear statement about how we’re reinvigorating the brand and solidifying Athleta’s position as the leader in performance and design innovation,” said Blakelsee, who as appointed CEO at the brand in July, 2023.

“Her deep expertise across performance, lifestyle, and collaborations will enable us to double down on Athleta’s commitment to delivering unparalleled product designed specifically for women, by women.”

In its most recent trading update in May, parent company Gap raised its annual sales forecast as its first-quarter results beat market expectations, boosted by strength in its Old Navy and Gap brands. Likewise, Comparable sales at Athleta rose 5 percent year-on-year for the quarter.