First Look: Banana Republic revamps New York flagship
Banana Republic is debuting a more elevated look at its remodeled New York City flagship store.
Located in the center of Manhattan's SoHo Cast Iron Historic District, at 552 Broadway, between Prince and Spring Streets, the 17,000-sq.-ft. two-story space has been redesigned in collaboration with architect and interior designer Noa Santos of the NAINOA interior design firm and creative advisor Jacqueline Schnabel. American fashion designer Zac Posen, who joined Gap Inc. in February as creative director and chief creative officer of Old Navy, was also involved in the revamp.
The store features features an elevated store design and retail experience, with architecture and art serving as an "immersive surround sound" for the brand's fashions. It also features a dedicated BR Home section, including furniture, lighting and other home goods. The SoHo opening follows the October 2023 unveiling of a slimmed-down flagship in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco.
The store also features luxe materials such as travertine, brass and Venetian plaster, and an array of artworks, including an installation by Mexico-based artist Angela Damman, known for using sustainable handmade textiles made from regenerative native plant fibers.
Throughout the store, customers will find a variety of other artworks that will be rotated seasonally in partnership with Schnabel - the first of which includes a bespoke chair, wall hanging artwork, and hammock displayed amid lush greenery in the entry area and windows.
Highlights of the two floors include.
First floor highlights:
- The first floor showcases women's collections and accessories, offering a seamless shopping experience for linen, cashmere, denim, occasionwear and soft dressing.
- Exclusive Banana Republic's vintage surplus offerings from the '80s and '90s are available for purchase.
- In the BR Classics Cashmere section, customers can experience products and learn about the retailer’s sustainability focus.
- A rotunda designed by Angela Damman features a one-of-a-kind chandelier.
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Photos courtesy of Banana Republic. -
Photos courtesy of Banana Republic. - Photos courtesy of Banana Republic.
Second floor highlights:
- The second floor features men's collections and accessories including leather, suede, denim, linen, cashmere, occasionwear, and a suiting shop with on-site tailoring services.
- The BR Home Penthouse Apartment is a three-room space that serves as the first BR Home showroom in New York City. The BR Home Design Studio is an interior design styling service led by expert stylists from Banana Republic's Home team, available by appointment.
- Banana Republic Bespoke Services offers personal styling, tailoring and alterations, gift boxing, local delivery and more. Customers can also book a VIP room for special events. Exclusive to the SoHo flagship, on-site product embroidery allows garments to be customized with a monogram, message or motif.
"It was a special experience to collaborate with Noa Santos, Jacqueline Schnabel and the in-house Banana Republic team to curate an incredible SoHo Flagship experience that celebrates the brand's heritage with a modern point of view through immersive experiences across fashion, art, global culture and more," said Gap Inc. creative director Zac Posen.
Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, Banana Republic is a division of Gap Inc. Gap recently reported a much better than expected first quarter of fiscal 2024 and raised its full-year outlook amid evidence that CEO Richard Dickson’s efforts to turnaround the company are taking hold.
In the Banana Republic division, quarterly sales of $440 million rose 2% compared to the prior year. Comparable sales were up 1%.
"The brand's continued focus on fixing the fundamentals drove sequential improvement in performance compared to the fourth quarter," Gap said.