Welcome to Abandoned Republic.
This site is a tribute to the wildly innovative and beloved Banana Republic Travel & Safari concept. Abandoned Republic creator Robyn Adams has documented Banana Republic’s history over the past 15 years, building a deep understanding of the company and curating a detailed archive of their classic travel & safari catalogues.
Discover the ode to Banana Republic’s heritage that documents it all, created for OG super fans and curious newcomers alike.
Catalog Archive:
1979 - 1982
1986
1983
1987
1984
1988
1985
Surplus
Banana Republic 101:
Patricia and Mel Ziegler at their offices on Bluxhome Street in San Francisco, 1985.
Banana Republic began not in a boardroom, but at a flea market in Marin County, California. The year was 1978, and the founders—Mel Ziegler, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, and his wife Patricia Gwilliam Ziegler, a courtroom sketch artist for the same paper—had an idea that was anything but ordinary.
It all started with a worn-out Bush jacket Mel brought back from a trip to Australia. The couple was inspired. They began sourcing vintage military surplus clothing, adding their own creative touches—like new buttons or elbow patches—and selling the reinvented pieces at local markets.
Their storytelling flair became just as iconic as the clothes themselves. When a batch of Spanish military shirts turned out to have unusually short sleeves, the Zieglers turned a potential flop into a bestseller by inventing a whimsical backstory. Their first catalog followed soon after—filled with Mel’s witty, fictional copy and Patricia’s hand-drawn illustrations.
Their first store opened in Mill Valley, CA, in 1978 and quickly gained a loyal following. But by 1983, they reached the limits of how far they could grow on their own. That year, the couple sold Banana Republic to Gap Inc. Backed by Gap’s manufacturing and financial resources, the brand expanded rapidly. Lavishly themed safari stores opened across the U.S., and various writers and artists were hired to bring their signature illustrated catalogs to life. Original clothing lines, inspired by travel and adventure, were produced around the world.
It’s Banana Republic’s roots as a travel outfitter, founded by a journalist and illustrator, that continue to inspire them today — through craftsmanship, storytelling, and a spirit of adventure and exploration in everything they do. Inspired by the best of their past, made modern for today.
About the Author: Robyn Adams
Robyn’s fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying their clothing and giving her their catalogs. She loved the clothes, and as an artist, she was drawn to the illustrations. Robyn went on to study illustration at an art college in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco, CA, and she worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA and works as a graphic designer and illustrator. She has been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.