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\u2019s Banana Republic\u2019s 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_empty_space] This 1986 book features photos of Banana Republic stores and the Zieglers.<\/p>\n A fantastic look at the founders of Banana Republic in the 80s. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.secretfanbase.com\/banana\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/examcouple2880-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span>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>\nExplore Banana Republic History<\/h2><\/div>[vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
The Banana Republic Guide to Safari and Travel Clothes<\/a><\/h2>\n
<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nThe Zieglers At Home and at the Office, January 1985<\/a><\/h2>\n