Banana Republic 101:

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.

The Banana Republic Guide to Safari and Travel Clothes

This 1986 book features photos of Banana Republic stores and the Zieglers.

The Zieglers At Home and at the Office, January 1985

A fantastic look at the founders of Banana Republic in the 80s.