Banana Republic And The Council Of Fashion Designers Of America Announce A Second Installment Of Their Partnership Supporting Emerging Designers

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Banana Republic and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) are excited to continue their partnership with the launch of a limited-edition capsule collection with artist and designer, Greg Lauren. The Greg Lauren for Banana Republic menswear collection debuts at select Banana Republic stores beginning December 2016.

The CFDA and Banana Republic first worked together for a special collaboration in Spring 2016, launching a women's capsule collection created with New York-based design trio, Timo Weiland. For the second installment of their partnership, Banana Republic and the CFDA have teamed with Greg Lauren to debut a menswear collection that is designed, cut and sewn in Los Angeles. The capsule will include 16 pieces, which marry Lauren's iconic, utilitarian style with Banana Republic's classic American sportswear sensibility.

"Our partnership with Banana Republic has allowed two designers the opportunity to grow and expand their consumer and production capacities in ways that otherwise may not have been possible," says Steven Kolb, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CFDA. "We are happy to be able to work with an iconic American brand like Banana Republic and look forward to debuting the Greg Lauren for Banana Republic collection this holiday."

"We're thrilled to continue our work with the CFDA to support emerging designers by helping them scale their business and broaden their visibility," says Michael Anderson, Senior Vice President of Design, Banana Republic. "Greg is a true artist who puts his heart and soul into every piece he creates. We share a passion for the details and had a great time playing with ways to marry our signature styles through his artistic approach."  

The Greg Lauren for Banana Republic collection consists of a variety of unexpected essentials, including lounge pants in knit and wool; outerwear like a relaxed flight jacket, mixed media jackets, a luxe cashmere top coat; as well as a casual tuxedo jacket and pant with linen tuxedo shirt. The assortment also includes effortlessly cool layering pieces like a cotton sweatshirt and henley long-sleeve shirts. The capsule leverages Banana Republic base fabrics, like cotton twill, to offer a unique blend of Lauren's craftsmanship with Banana Republic's modern versatility and retails from $178 (select shirts) - $3,000 (cashmere overcoat).

"Banana Republic is an iconic American retailer and I'm excited to be collaborating with them as I continue to expand my business," says Lauren. "This collaboration is helping me explore new ways to extend my production capacity and test new ways of working while still maintaining a very hands-on approach to my craft."

The collection will launch at select Banana Republic retail locations December 6, 2016.

ABOUT BANANA REPUBLIC (@BananaRepublic)
Banana Republic is a global apparel and accessories brand focused on delivering versatile, contemporary style.  Through thoughtful design, Banana Republic provides a wardrobe of favorites to style and wear time and time again in new ways.  Banana Republic offers fragrances, clothing, eyewear, jewelry, shoes and handbags with detailed craftsmanship and luxurious materials.  Founded in San Francisco, Banana Republic is located in more than 750 company-operated and franchise retail locations worldwide.

About the CFDA (@CFDA)
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962 that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 450 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization owns the Fashion Calendar, and serves as the official keeper of New York Fashion Week. It stages the bi-annual New York Fashion Week; Men's. It also offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA {Fashion Incubator}, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Strategic Partnerships Group, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages the worldwide Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations and addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative.
For more information, please visit www.CFDA.com, facebook.com/cfda, twitter.com/cfda, cfda.tumblr.com, and youtube.com/cfdatv.

ABOUT GREG LAUREN (@GREGLAUREN)
After gaining recognition as a painter, Greg Lauren created Greg Lauren in 2011 with the mission of "designing clothing from the perspective of being an artist, and making garments using an artistic approach" Specializing in a "destroyed but elegant" aesthetic, the collection combines repurposed vintage military fabrics with new fabrics put through unique artistic processes to give everything a one of a kind feeling and aesthetic.  Greg Lauren is now available in over 50 boutiques worldwide, and is made entirely in Los Angeles. www.greglauren.com 

SOURCE Banana Republic