{"id":2482,"date":"2018-01-23T16:28:24","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T16:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/?page_id=2482"},"modified":"2026-01-21T02:36:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:36:31","slug":"dispatches","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/","title":{"rendered":"Dispatches"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”standard” bg_select=”bg_parallax” parallax_speed=”0″ bg_image_attach=”scroll” p_bottom=”20″ p_right=”15″ parallax_img=”5488″ m_right=”15″][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5490″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1599181682908{padding-top: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/cover-gallery\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row m_right=”25″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Welcome to Abandoned Republic.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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\u2019s history over the past 15 years, building a deep understanding of the company and curating a detailed archive of their classic travel & safari catalogues.<\/p>\n

Discover the ode to Banana Republic\u2019s heritage that documents it all, created for OG super fans and curious newcomers alike.<\/p>\n

Visit our Instagram here.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”52px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768962831487{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Recent Dispatches:<\/h1>\n

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<\/i><\/span>

Expedition Jumper<\/a><\/h2>
<\/i> February 27, 2026<\/span><\/i> By Robyn Adams<\/a><\/span><\/i> In 1986<\/a>, Banana Republic Specialty<\/a>, Women's Clothes<\/a><\/span><\/i> No Comments<\/span><\/div><\/header>

From the Christmas 1986 catalogue, the Expedition Jumper was also offered in Fall 1986...<\/p>

Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article>

Archive Drop 03 | Flight Jackets<\/a><\/h2>
<\/i> January 21, 2026<\/span><\/i> By Robyn Adams<\/a><\/span><\/i> In Banana Republic Specialty<\/a>, Blog Posts<\/a><\/span><\/i> No Comments<\/span><\/div><\/header>

  Banana Republic Leather Flight Jackets The January 2026 Vintage Drop offers Banana Republic outwear from the Safari Era and beyond, including several examples of leather flight jackets which had a prominent role in building the mystique of the original Banana Republic Travel & Safari Co. Dashing and dramatic jackets have always been an essential part of the Banana Republic. The famous origin story of the company begins in 1978 when journalist Mel Ziegler returned from assignment in Au...<\/p>

Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article> <\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758738877071{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Catalog Archive:<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”black” css=”.vc_custom_1758738902530{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4839″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/catalogs-by-year\/1979-1982-catalogs\/” title=”1979 – 1982″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”2524″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-30-holiday-1986\/” title=”1986″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4644″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1983″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/1983-summer-catalogue\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”2521″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1987″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-34-holiday-1987\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4812″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1984″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/catalogs-by-year\/1984-catalogs\/banana-republic-catalog-17-winter-1984\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”4463″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1988″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-38-rails-to-trails\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4189″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1985″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/summer-1985-updates\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”9706″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”Surplus” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/history\/old-photos\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Banana Republic 101:<\/span><\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Patricia and Mel Ziegler at their offices on Bluxhome Street in San Francisco, 1985.<\/p><\/div>\n

Banana Republic began not in a boardroom, but at a flea market in Marin County, California. The year was 1978, and the founders\u2014Mel Ziegler, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle<\/em>, and his wife Patricia Gwilliam Ziegler, a courtroom sketch artist for the same paper\u2014had an idea that was anything but ordinary.<\/p>\n

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\u2014like new buttons or elbow patches\u2014and selling the reinvented pieces at local markets.<\/p>\n

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\u2014filled with Mel\u2019s witty, fictional copy and Patricia\u2019s hand-drawn illustrations.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

It’s Banana Republic’s roots as a travel outfitter, founded by a journalist and illustrator, that continue to inspire them today \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758739765067{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-bottom: 25px !important;border-top-width: 15px !important;border-bottom-width: 15px !important;padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #639247 !important;border-top-color: #639247 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #639247 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n

About the Author: Robyn Adams<\/h1>\n

Robyn\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”standard” bg_select=”bg_parallax” parallax_speed=”0″ bg_image_attach=”scroll” p_bottom=”20″ p_right=”15″ parallax_img=”5488″ m_right=”15″][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5490″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1599181682908{padding-top: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/cover-gallery\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row m_right=”25″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] 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\u2019s 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\u2019s heritage that documents it all, created for OG super fans and curious newcomers alike. Visit our Instagram here.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”52px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768962831487{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”] Recent Dispatches: [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758738877071{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”] Catalog Archive: [\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”black” css=”.vc_custom_1758738902530{margin-bottom: -1px !important;border-bottom-width: -1px !important;padding-bottom: -1px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4839″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/catalogs-by-year\/1979-1982-catalogs\/” title=”1979 – 1982″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”2524″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-30-holiday-1986\/” title=”1986″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4644″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1983″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/1983-summer-catalogue\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”2521″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1987″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-34-holiday-1987\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4812″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1984″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/catalogs-by-year\/1984-catalogs\/banana-republic-catalog-17-winter-1984\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”4463″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1988″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/banana-republic-catalog-no-38-rails-to-trails\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_single_image image=”4189″ img_size=”400×400″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”1985″ link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/summer-1985-updates\/”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_single_image image=”9706″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” title=”Surplus” link=”https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/history\/old-photos\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_empty_space height=”12px”][vc_column_text] 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\u2014Mel Ziegler, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, and his wife Patricia Gwilliam Ziegler, a courtroom sketch artist for the same paper\u2014had 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\u2014like new buttons or elbow patches\u2014and 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\u2014filled with Mel\u2019s witty, fictional copy and Patricia\u2019s 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\u2019s 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 \u2014 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. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758739765067{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-bottom: 25px !important;border-top-width: 15px !important;border-bottom-width: 15px !important;padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #639247 !important;border-top-color: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2482"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2482"}],"version-history":[{"count":90,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15110,"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2482\/revisions\/15110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}