Abandoned Republic

[Grizzly Adams]

I am a big fan of the vintage Banana Republic stuff, and thought others might enjoy this web site.

http://scottcadams.com/bananarepublic/

 

[bburtner@moran]

Oh my how things have changed,I remember when A&F in NYC sold real sportsmans clothing,firearms,etc...(geez I am getting old)!!!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Oh my how things have changed,I remember when A&F in NYC sold real sportsmans clothing,firearms,etc...(geez I am getting old)!!!

Translation: "A&F" = "Abercrombie & Fitch". In Los Angeles, our version of A&F was the long-gone "Tuft-Lyon Arms Co."

 

[frussell]

Cool stuff. I remember buying almost all the items pictured via the mail order catalog. Some things really were cool. They had some real surplus items for a while. Some old girlfriend has my leather A2-style BR jacket, and my linen duster. Their old stuff was well made, and I still have a few items from the 80s that are good as new. If only I was built like I was in the 80s, they might even fit! Frank

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I remember when the BR at South Coast Plaza opened around 1985. I bought an Australian Army-issue Akubra slouch hat there. I still have it though it's really tattered now.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Cool stuff. I remember buying almost all the items pictured via the mail order catalog. Some things really were cool. They had some real surplus items for a while. Some old girlfriend has my leather A2-style BR jacket, and my linen duster. Their old stuff was well made, and I still have a few items from the 80s that are good as new. If only I was built like I was in the 80s, they might even fit! Frank

Yep, me too. For a while, my closet looked like a BR branch store! I was living in bush Alaska at the time, and found their stuff to be well made and durable to take hunting and bush whacking. Still have a bunch of it, and can still wear most of it. Wife is the only old girlfriend that has any of my stuff.

 

[RBH]

Man what a great site!
Thanks for the link, I used to love the BR catalog.
In fact I had this one for years and may still have it packed away somewhere.

 

[GoodTimesGone]

It's interesting that in the old ads for the leather Army Air Corps Jacket they say first quality cowhide, nylon lining, and side entry pockets just like the original. In the later (1987) ad they state that side entry pockets are an added feature. I have one of these old Banana Republic A-2s. The only reason I don't wear it much (aside from having many other jackets to wear) is the fake aged "mottled" appearance of the leather. Other than that is is well-made and has a nice fit (not too oversized).

 

[DNO]

My one and only Banana Republic item. A safari hat...thrift store find in perfect condition. My size as well.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

At what point did Banana Republic turn into just another apparel store?

 

[RBH]

Very cool find David. I would love to be so lucky.

 

[DNO]

You're right RBH...a lucky find indeed. Just checked my notes (I'm an incurable note keeper)...picked it up last May for $4.

 

[Rathdown]

I still wear my BR safari hat (purchased new in Orange County California in 1985) and it has held up remarkably well. There were two other stores in the LA area that were proper sportsman's outfitters: Kerr's Sporting Goods, in Beverly Hills, and (yikes, I can't remember its name) one in Burbank that was a huge, two story, log cabin on Victory Boulevard. Located about five minutes from Warner Brothers, Disney and Universal Studios a lot of film and television personalities used to come in for guns, ammo, and all sorts of out door gear.

 

[Rathdown]

At what point did Banana Republic turn into just another apparel store?

Right after they became profitable and were bought out...

 

[DNO]

Right after they became profitable and were bought out...

Founded in 1978. Bought by The Gap in 1983 (that wouldn't be good), according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Republic_(clothing_retailer)

 

[IXL]

I still have my cotton Bush Vest from the 1985 catalog. Man, did I ever live in that thing!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

This says it all.

"Banana Republic is an American clothing brand founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978 as a tropical travel-themed clothing company; it has subsequently transformed into a mainstream luxury clothing retailer." -- Wikipedia

The triumph of dull mediocrity.

 

[GHQ1]

This says it all.

"Banana Republic is an American clothing brand founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978 as a tropical travel-themed clothing company; it has subsequently transformed into a mainstream luxury clothing retailer." -- Wikipedia

The triumph of dull mediocrity.

Just one on the list

Willis & Geiger
Eddie Bauer
Orvis

. . . . .Filson?

Nice site for RRL -- old and new designs
http://www.lubys-tokyo.com/RRL-Ralph1.html

 

[feltfan]

Yeah, I remember the Polk Street store. Great stuff in there. WWII era sweaters, etc.

Just crap now.

Rather than list the brands of bygone eras, let's list the stores that are great now.
Who are the Banana Republics of today that we should visit before they disappear?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Who are the Banana Republics of today that we should visit before they disappear?

Here's one: http://www.misterfreedom.com/?page_id=33

And here's another: http://www.ralphlauren.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=11757743