It was before my time roaming the malls, but in the 80s, Banana Republic was a cool place. Then they sold to the Gap, and lost all cool factor and personality

in the 1980s, Banana Republic was still a purveyor of Indian imports, Israeli army surplus and other exotic goods aimed at yuppie armchair adventurers.

Banana Republic’s first foray into retail began, inauspiciously enough, at a flea market, with 500 Spanish paratrooper shirts. Mel and Patricia found the stylish garments at a military surplus broker. The stylish cut and unique details had caught their eye, and they bought the lot at a bargain. Before this, Patricia had been an illustrator at the San Francisco Chronicle, and Mel had been a journalist there. That's where they met

The first Banana Republic store opened, complete with palm trees and a zebra-striped façade. Exotic military garments were excavated from dark warehouses around the globe. Seamstresses stitched furiously, transforming beautiful surplus fabrics used for sleeping bags and mattress covers into stylish blazers and shirts. A catalog, filled with more whimsical stories like the Short-Armed Paratrooper Shirt was sent to potential customers.

https://www.seamwork.com/issues/2018/03/on-safari-to-find-banana-republic

and they made a Banana Republic Biplane Gift Box

there were at least 62 catalogs, and they had cool cover art

https://www.secretfanbase.com/banana/cover-gallery/
https://www.secretfanbase.com/banana/shoebox/

https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/banana-republic-was-mainstream-fashion-it-was-weirdly-wonderful-safari-brand-170059/

one of the mall storefront jeeps was found, and then used as a prop in a high school prom

https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/banana-republic-store-jeeps/
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-80s-banana-republic-jeep-1551285487
https://www.secretfanbase.com/banana/
http://www.ewillys.com/2013/03/17/banana-republic-jeep-stores/
http://www.ewillys.com/2013/11/02/1980s-banana-republic-jeep-gift-box-on-ebay/
https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/banana-republic-store-jeeps/
http://koko-rokoko.blogspot.com/2010/12/80s-banana-republic-travel-m-safari.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/53003768@N06/8455542752/

Hat tip to https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/ecetn2/1980s_vs_current_day_banana_republic/