Banana Republic is an American clothing and accessories retailer owned by American multinational corporation, Gap Inc.

It was founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler with the name “Banana Republic Travel & Safari Clothing Company” with a safari theme; in 1983, Gap purchased the company, changed the name to simply “Banana Republic”, and gave it a more upscale image.[1] Banana Republic has more than 600 stores located internationally. In late 2016 the brand announced Olivia Palermo as its first women's global style ambassador.

The original Banana Republic was founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978.[4] The couple were known for acquiring interesting clothing items that their travel-related jobs brought them in contact with. They eventually opened a store in the Mill Valley area of Northern California.[5] They were known for a hand-drawn catalogue of items with fictional traveler/explorer stories printed alongside, and their safari-themed retail locations.[6][7]

Gap Inc. acquired Banana Republic in 1983, eventually rebranding it as a mainstream luxury clothing retailer. The literate articles, hand-drawn catalog, and eccentric tourist-oriented items were phased out and were replaced with more luxurious, but not unique, items for which the brand is currently known. To set itself apart from Gap as a more upmarket brand, Banana Republic occasionally buys and refurbishes historic buildings for its retail locations.

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