Banana Republic

Banana Republic is a chain of "casual luxury" clothing stores owned by Gap Inc., which also operates The Gap and Old Navy stores. Founded in 1969, The Gap is a mid-scale specialty retailer, while Old Navy was launched in 1994 as a value chain. more...

The original Banana Republic, which began in 1978, was a two-store safari and travel-themed clothing company. The majority of sales came from its eccentric catalog, which presented high-end and unique items with chatty, usually fictional, backstories from exotic locations, as well as more pedestrian high-volume products deliberately spiced up with a similar treatment. The company competed directly with the J. Peterman catalog later satirized on Seinfeld. As Banana Republic expanded its retail operation, it became known for the themed decoration in its stores, often featuring authentic elements, such as real Jeeps and foliage, as well as atmospheric elements, such as fog and steam.

Gap Inc. acquired Banana Republic in 1983, eventually rebranding it as a mainstream luxury clothing retailer. The unique tourist-oriented items, which arguably gave the brand its differentiation, were phased out. For a time, Banana Republic ate into Gap's consumer base. To set itself apart from Gap as a more upmarket brand, Banana Republic occasionally buys and refurbishes historic buildings for its retail locations.

Today the company operates nearly 400 Banana Republic stores in the United States (including Puerto Rico), and approximately 25 stores in Canada. It has announced plans to open four stores in Tokyo, Japan in September 2005.

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