Banana Republic
4.4
5.4
Overall Score
Author: Kalicia Bateman
Banana Republic is part of the GAP family of brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Hill City. All five brands share an online checkout, although they very much operate independently with distinct brand experiences in their retail brick and mortar stores.
Founded in 1978, Banana Republic was bought five years later by GAP. In comparison to the other two mainstream clothing brands, Old Navy and GAP, Banana Republic is widely considered to be a higher price point and higher quality than big box chain stores like Target, and slightly lower price than J.Crew and higher fashion/couture lines like Gucci.
The Good
- Contemporary Look for Professionals
- Ecommerce with GAP Family of Brands
- Personal Styling, Clothing Rental, Gift Cards
- Give Back Initiatives
Contemporary Look for Professionals
Banana Republic offers a contemporary look for modern, professional-minded women and men, has a wide retail reach in stores and shopping centers across the United States.
Ecommerce with GAP Family of Brands
In addition to retail shopping, Banana Republic has a seamless online platform for ecommerce, and partners with the GAP family of brands to be able to shop five stores in one; items from all stores may be purchased together without using separate checkout carts.
Personal Styling, Clothing Rental, Gift Cards
Banana Republic also offers personal styling in store, clothing rental through its Style Passport program, and gift cards.
Give Back Initiatives
Banana Republic has taken the initiative to participate in give back and charitable initiatives, such as clothing donations, cash donations, clothing recycling, and other measures.
The Bad
- Higher Price
- No Children’s and Baby Clothing
- Shipping Limitations
Higher Price
The price point for Banana Republic is higher than other comparable clothing lines: by comparison, Old Navy offers pants in the $20–$40 range, GAP in the $40–$80 range, and Banana Republic in the $80–$150 range. It could be argued for double the price, the quality of clothing may not be twice as good.
No Children’s and Baby Clothing
Banana Republic does not offer children’s and baby clothing lines, although some testing and initial development has begun in recent years — unlike Old Navy, Gap, Macy’s and J.C. Penney, which are known for family-friendly shopping. This puts Banana Republic at a major disadvantage for shoppers wanting to shop for or style the entire family utilizing one location or brand.
Shipping Limitations
Shipping is not available for international and non-continental U.S. states and territories. In addition, free shipping is only available after $50 or more in purchases.
The Bottom Line
If you fit into the target demographic — modern, professional, semi-affluent men and women — and have the available funds and inclination to invest in a higher-end wardrobe, Banana Republic is a reasonably priced and stylish venue, with supportive personal stylists in store to help.
The clothing is quality and if cared for, will provide a worthwhile investment. Compared to other lower-quality or lower-end fashion chains, you can’t beat the look, durability, and classic nature of Banana Republic’s women’s and men’s lines.
Review Source
Rebecca Managua, MN
6 years ago
