Banana Republic Mines Its Archive to Inspire Modern Brand Love
With Archive, Banana Republic wants to engage longtime fans and court new ones Banana Republic
Banana Republic has opened its vault, and everyone is invited in.
The Gap Inc. brand has launched Banana Republic Archive, a digital platform where fans can purchase limited-edition vintage pieces from its archives from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
To complement the push, it’s also acquired Abandoned Republic, a fan-built archive curated by illustrator Robyn Adams. The site is a digital trove of illustrated retro catalogs, featuring writing from authors including Nora Ephron and Hunter S. Thompson alongside original store imagery.
Abandoned Republic will remain intact as part of Archive, serving as a living tribute to the creative flair that has defined the brand since it was founded by Mel Ziegler and Patricia Gwilliam Ziegler in 1978 as an ode to travel and adventure.
