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Low Profile Bag

Introduced in the Spring 1986 catalogue as the British Low-Profile Bag, it subsequently ran until Summer 1988 as the Cotton Twill and Leather Low-Profile Bag.

From the catalogue: ” An elegantly informal legal-sized bag in which to carry movie scripts, plans for the new restaurant, specs for your latest invention–or just your tennis togs–this briefcase in no way resembles the usual stiff and stuffy item. Splendidly suited to working vacations on exotic islands, it holds–in addition to your files–bathing suit, shorts, T-shirts, and paperbacks (the last fit neatly in two roomy outside pockets.) Made of 100% cotton twill generously trimmed with leather, it’s equipped with a sturdy, adjustable 48-inch webbed strap. At home, it travels to meetings as easily as it did the tropics. In fact, it’s rather like a well-bred human–wherever you take it, it fits in.” Later catalogues had a truncated description paired with a review by famous San Francisco lawyer Melvin Belli.

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.