Designer Henry Zankov is bringing his “expressive sensibility” to Banana Republic’s timeless dressing with a co-created, limited-edition capsule collection, launching Tuesday.
The 27-piece collection for men’s and women’s clothing and accessories uses premium fabrications, such as brushed cashmere, proprietary wool yarns, leathers and engineered plaids. It’s designed with relaxed proportions and mixing and matching in mind.
“From the beginning, we saw an opportunity to reinterpret Banana Republic’s codes through Zankov’s approach to color and texture. We brought together two distinct points of view, grounded in heritage, craftsmanship and creativity,” said Meena Anvary, Banana Republic’s chief marketing officer, in a statement.
“This collaboration with Banana Republic is really an exploration of the visual language I’ve developed through my work, brought together with the brand’s rich sense of craft and heritage,” Zankov said. “The pieces were created with a spirit of playfulness, but with an enduring, timeless quality. I wanted each garment to feel beautiful in the hand, to have that tactile, almost instinctive appeal.”
The collection includes a brushed cashmere Auden sweater in vivid stripes and solid colors, a brushed-cashmere Sasha cardigan in navy and pistachio stripes and a classic, long-sleeve Frankie polo, with a pop of malachite green on the placket. More overtly feminine is the gray tank top, cardigan and pencil skirt set with blue wisteria piping in tissue brushed ribbed cashmere. Prices are from $90 to $600.
In designing the collection, Zankov combed Banana Republic’s archives and selected pieces to reinterpret with his own signature elements including unexpected color and patchwork construction.
“The Helene, a paneled leather and suede pencil skirt, was inspired by a 1986 style with similar construction,” the retailer said. “With the addition of a Zankov signature stripe detail at the interior cuff, the Mateo, a deep burgundy leather bomber jacket, modernizes an archival reference. The Lev reimagines a 1950s car coat in Italian wool produced in Prato, Tuscany, finished with a leather collar and a voluminous silhouette.”
Accessories include reversible brushed-cashmere hats, colorful cashmere socks and scarves in saturated blue accents and multicolor stripes.
To launch the collaboration, Banana Republic and Zankov developed a campaign titled, “Future Heirlooms.”
Through video and still photography, “the campaign articulates the inspiration of the collection, eliciting a feeling of coziness and joy while paying homage to one’s own history,” Banana Republic said. The photography by Andrew Jacobs is juxtaposed against works by the Belgian artist Katrien de Blauwer, commissioned for the project to evoke emotion through color. The anthem video features Zankov speaking about tactile and nostalgic references, such as leather softened by a long journey and the feeling of cashmere on the skin, that inspired the collection.
Members of Gap Inc.’s Encore loyalty program have access to the capsule collection Monday, available at BananaRepublic.com and at select Banana Republic stores. Gap Inc. operates the Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta brands as well as Banana Republic.
The Zankov tie-in is the latest in a string of high-profile collaborations by Banana Republic, most recently with La Ligne in September, The Explorers Club in April and “The White Lotus” television series last year.
Zankov, the New York-based label founded by Henry Zankov and recognized for color, pattern and texture, has also been elevating its profile, just last week naming Jack Tobin as its first chief executive officer and business partner. Tobin is the founder of the Jack Tobin agency for luxury brand development, sales and consulting. Last year, Zankov was named artistic director of Diane von Furstenberg.
Zankov started his namesake brand in 2020 to inject a sense of play, ease and innovation into knitwear through the use of color, pattern and textures. He frequently juxtaposes fine natural fibers such as virgin wools, mohair, merino and alpaca with technical yarns. His pieces are knitted with clean, minimal surfaces using crafted techniques such as intarsias, double-knit jacquards and digital printing. Fascinated with color, art, architecture, sport and the street, Zankov explores a genderless and easy way to wear knitwear.