The denim brand now known as G-Star RAW was originally called Gap Star.
The Dutch company was founded in Amsterdam in 1989 under the name Gap Star. It later changed its name to G-Star RAW, a branding shift that emphasized untreated or minimally finished denim and the company’s interest in technical, construction-focused design.
G-Star became known for its approach to raw denim, including jeans designed to show the character of the fabric and its development through wear. The brand also experimented with three-dimensional construction and distinctive silhouettes rather than relying only on traditional five-pocket styling.
The name is easy to confuse with the American retailer Gap, but the two companies are separate. G-Star’s original name included the word “Gap” before the Dutch brand adopted its current identity. The “RAW” name became central to the company’s public image and product language.