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Banana Republic was established in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler, who held travel-related positions at the San Francisco Chronicle and acquired interesting clothing pieces while traveling. The couple bought clothes in shops around the world and opened a store in Mill Valley, Northern California, to retail their finds.
From 1978–1983, the brand focused on travel wear and safari style and sold items like ghurka shorts, madras shirts, paratrooper bags, photojournalist’s vests, and khaki trousers. In 1983, Banana Republic opened five stores in California and a few other locations.
Gap Inc. acquired Banana Republic in 1983 and rebranded it as a luxury retailer, steering away from safari style and focusing on professional clothing, such as suits and shift dresses. In 2021, the brand got back to its roots a bit with a line of travel-inspired clothes, including pieces reminiscent of the original safari gear, like khaki suits, desert boots, and sun hats.
In August 2020, Banana Republic announced the closure of about two hundred and twenty-five stores by 2024 (about one-third of its locations) as a result of the global pandemic.
