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True Surplus: Swedish Bandolier

August 10, 2020 By In Bags, Banana Republic History, Surplus No Comments

A favorite item is the Authentic Swedish Bandolier.  Banana Republic was selling these “authentic relic” surplus bandoliers in their catalogs from Holiday 1984 until Fall 1985. UPDATE: Discovered the Bandolier was offered as early as 1979!! See below. 

From the catalog: “One never has enough pockets on safari. This leather bandolier with canvas insets offers five extras for film, matches, notepad, sunscreen, snacks, compass & trinkets. Handsome enough to hang on your wall when you get home.”

The bandolier is a  Swedish Army Mauser ammunition bandolier. It’s very popular with Star Wars fans and cosplay enthusiasts because it was used as a belt for the Tusken Raider Sandpeople in the first Star Wars film.

You can often find a few on eBay, and some even claim to be from Banana Republic, but without markings who can say?  BR marked their Swedish Bandoliers with a permanent ink stamp of the “Discovered By Banana Republic” logo they used on true surplus items. 

 

 

 

The bandolier was first seen in the 1979 Fall Catalog #3!
From Fall 1985. The Bandolier was illustrated twice, with this being the more detailed rendering. This page is practically a colonialist cosplay catalog. If you are looking to invade the West Indies this is for you.
BRWinter1984015 Banana Republic #25, Fall 1985 Gurkha Shorts, Swedish Bandolier, British Army Drill Trousers, Bushman's Shirt, Pith Helmet Banana Republic #23 Summer 1985 Banana Republic #21 Christmas 1984 RAF Sweater, Swedish Bandolier, Women's Safari Shirt, Safari Dress, Traveler's Tropical Wool Pants Banana Republic #20 Fall 1984 RAF Sweater, Swedish Bandolier, Women's Safari Shirt, Safari Dress, Traveler's Tropical Wool Pants, Banana Republic Fall UPDATE 1984 RAF Sweater, Swedish Bandolier, Women's Safari Shirt, Safari Dress, Traveler's Tropical Wool Pants, Banana Republic Summer 1985 Update #24 British String Vest, Franco Pants, Bombay Shirt, Swedish Bandolier
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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.