No, the Banana Republic brand is not an expensive one, considering that most people can afford them. Banana Republic is a brand whose prices are mid-level and affordable for many. This is why the brand is popular among Americans.
I would not call Banana Republic a luxury brand as well, even though they have served both the affluent and regular members of the public.
For a little background, the brand is a member of the Gap brand. It is a high-end brand that offers cheap novelty fashion using high-quality fabrics.
In the final analysis, it also depends on how a customer or fan of the brand sees him or herself. Some would consider the brand a luxury one if they make a purchase that shakes their bank, others would consider the prices modest because of the quality the brand offers.
What is Banana Republic’s price range?
Banana Republic prices range from $22 to $80 for their pants and $20 to $30 for their t-shirts and boxer shorts.
This isn’t just a theory. You only have to take a walk into their stores to see if you can actually afford more items than you can imagine.
Moreover, I’ve had to make my findings by checking and comparing prices on Amazon where most buyers shop. Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to walk into a Banana Republic physical store so here, I’ve done the research.
Banana Republic sells men’s briefs, sunglasses, t-shirts, and athletic fit pants at prices most people would consider mid-level.
These men’s boxer shorts made of 100% cotton are $22.99 for the medium size. It’s a comfortable one with an elastic waist for a perfect fit.
This puts the brand in the same category of brands that are clearly affordable without compromising on quality. Most well-known brands like Bonobos, Carhatt, and A.P.C sell pants in the range of $100 and $300.
Below is a Banana Republic pant at the price of $64.99.
This is a navy-colored pant Men’s Mason athletic fit stretch chino. It’s a simple design cut exquisitely to look trendy and proper on men. The closure features a zipper and can be machine washed.
Shopping for Banana Republic clothes in physical stores can be even more economical than online. So if your circumstances allow or you live near one.
Waiting a week or so after markdowns can give you an opportunity to buy at significant reductions.
Who wears Banana Republic Clothes?
Everyone wears Banana republic. The boxer shorts or bra you have probably is Banana Republic. To get more specific:
Professionals and office folks
The Banana Republic targets people who have a flair for fashion, who are aged between 20 to 35, and who work in offices as professionals.
They are people who love to look good and trendy without all the bright lights. Those who wear the clothes also include folks who want respectable and conservative fashion.
You can tell that this is the target of the brand by how the clothes are priced. These days the age range that wears the brand has widened into the two extremes, 15 to 65, the age of people who mostly work for a living.
In the past, people turned 18 or more before they began to work but since working from home became a thing, even a 15-year-old can earn a good living.
Women who blend work and leisure
People who wear the brand also include women who value clothes that fit into the divide between work and leisure. They love the brand because it allows these compromises at affordable prices.
If there’s something we are never wrong about, it is that humans don’t really change that much. We just make a 360 and come back to what we’ve been doing, but we do it with a dash of the present flavor
Last year 2021, the Banana Republic started bringing back the adventurous spirit of their clothings, and people are finding them quaint and interesting. If anything, people are as adventurous as they were in the 80s and 90s.
People who love retro styles
The brand is adding to it, the white-collar vibe the clothes had in the early days. I dare say that in the coming years most would crave the musty air of offices again the moment we get used to the over-familiar environment of working from home.
We would want to dress up, take the bus or ride the train while dressed in a pair of brown pants, a white shirt, a red tie, and a fedora.
This craving will mostly drive those who left the offices back to it and as they trudge back into the four walls of offices, they’d be wearing their favorite Banana Republic underwear. Whether others see it doesn’t matter, as long as we personally know what we’re wearing.
What the brand is probably trying to do is broaden their customers base. I believe it will work well in a world liberal with its ideas yet conservative in the clothes it wants to keep.
Is the Banana Republic a good quality brand?
Yes, Banana Republic is a top-quality brand. The brand uses quality fabric to make its clothes. Their construction is also solid.
You may ask this question because you consider the clothes high-end. Or the pricing is high compared to other brands. However, the truth is very few brands offer the same quality at the price Banana Republic does.
Let me give you a sneak peek into the activities that lead to the quality of the clothes:
Cotton and nylon
Banana Republic uses two of the most common materials used by clothing brands, cotton, and nylon. Recently though, production companies try to cut the cost of producing items. Another consideration is the environment.
The brand uses eco-friendly materials. The cotton and nylon Banana Republic use are recycled. These are known to be durable materials trusted the world over.
Construction
The Banana Republic team that handles the design and construction of the clothes works closely with the team in the parent company, Gap. Consider how they prepare for the Summer line of clothes.
They make frequent trips to the Global sourcing offices of Gap in Hong Kong to collaborate with teams and vendors that handle elements of production like sourcing.
Out there in Hong Kong which is the center of cloth manufacturing, the teams cut and construct the fabrics. The Banana Republic team then takes over from there and designs and makes the clothes.
Each of the stages is monitored by Gap, the vendors are vetted to make sure they provide nothing but the best fabrics.
Every design you see on the Banana Republic line is carefully chosen. They iterate the designs multiple times with the comfort of the customer in mind.
Is Banana Republic worth it?
Yes, it is worth it. Original prices may seem high but when you consider the great quality offered by the brand you’d appreciate it better.
You might want to consider getting your clothes at discounts which are available at 40% off almost every week at stores or their online shop.
Why Banana Republic is worth it
The brand is worth it and deserves checking out for the following reasons:
Cool and durable fabrics
They use the best materials in their clothing. Most of them are cotton and nylon. They use painstaking techniques to bring the designs to life.
The clothes last a long time. The timeless designs which are based on old lifestyles that continue to feel new is another reason to buy them. The designs were cool ten years ago and are still cool now.
Great marketing service
The brand is always offering discounts on purchases. You can be on a budget and still be able to afford the brand. When you open a new Banana Republic reward visa or credit card account, you get a 20% discount on your first purchases.
This discount is also available on the other brands as well; Old Navy, Gap, and ATHLETA. They called this their loyalty reward. You can get up to a 50% discount on Old Navy apparel.
Their discounts even cover military personnel who enjoy a 15% in-store discount on all full-priced merchandise.
Cool styles
The brand makes something for everyone, no matter the age. Styles by some other brands focus on particular ages but Banana Republic makes clothes that transcend ages.
The styles focus on themes rather than trends, on comfort and functionality more than style. Style is important, yes, but the best ones are timeless and that’s what Banana Republic offers in their clothes.
Bottom line
You can tell that Banana Republic has put great effort into customer satisfaction. From preparing their designs to their many discounts, this iconic brand works tirelessly to make its customers happy.
The brand is more popular than you may think. You may have bought their clothes unknowingly from stores.
The brand also realizes that price is an important part of meeting customer needs. Instead of making expensive clothes that just a section of society can afford, they chose to make them affordable for both mid-level earners, and attractive for high earners.
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