Banana Republic Launches First-Ever "Mad Men" Series-Inspired Collection in Collaboration With AMC and "Mad Men" Costume Designer Janie Bryant

NEW YORK, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Banana Republic and AMC are proud to announce the first-ever limited edition "Mad Men" inspired collection for men and women.  The collection is designed by Banana Republic in collaboration with "Mad Men" Emmy® Award-winning Costume Designer Janie Bryant and will be carried in Banana Republic's North American stores and online at www.bananarepublic.com beginning August 11, 2011.

Inspired by the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning AMC series "Mad Men," which returns for a fifth season in early 2012, the Banana Republic "Mad Men" capsule offers a modern take on the cool polish and panache of the 1960s era through the Banana Republic lens of affordable luxury and noticeable quality. The collection features nearly 65 pieces of apparel and accessories for men and women, embodying the style tenants of the time – effortlessly chic, dressed-up American sportswear.

"Working with Janie to gain a true understanding of the 'Mad Men' look and feel was a delight," says Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen. "Janie was instrumental in helping us achieve the series aesthetic and standard of authenticity with this capsule collection, offering sketches, her own inspirations and actual artifacts from the production set to help inspire the 'Mad Men' within all of us."

The men's collection includes chunky-meets-streamlined knit sweaters, tailored suit separates and fitted trousers, as well as classic accessories with character, including a money clip, cotton pocket squares, silk ties, tie bars and fedora hats. The women's pieces are modern yet lady-like including chic trench coats, tailored dresses, high-waisted skirts, silk tie-neck blouses and statement accessories, like print scarves and leopard print pump heels.

"Collaborating with Simon and his team to design this collection was an experience I'll never forget," says Bryant. "It's so rewarding to help create a collection that will allow fans of the series to channel their own 'Mad Men' style and take home fashionable items that are modern, not costume."

Jack Calhoun, President of Banana Republic said, "We began our relationship three years ago with the first-ever Casting Call and creating this capsule collection was a natural progression, allowing Banana Republic customers and fans of the series to own fashions inspired by their favorite show."

Banana Republic and AMC Extend Marketing Collaboration

In celebration of the collection's launch, AMC and Banana Republic reprise the popular "Mad About Style" webisodes, featuring Bryant and Kneen, who appear together in new video segments that document the making of the collection. Three unique episodes offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the collection is developed from design kick-off to the collection launch.  The videos will be shown on www.amctv.com/madmen and www.facebook.com/BananaRepublic beginning August 11.

AMC and Banana Republic will also repeat its popular "Mad Men" Casting Call, a co-sponsored contest where customers can enter to win a walk-on role on the award-winning program and a $1,000 Banana Republic shopping spree. Last year, nearly 10,000 people entered the contest and more than 7 million votes were cast to determine the finalists. Customers and fans can visit www.madmencastingcall.com for details. Fans can vote for their favorites to be considered as finalists.  From those finalists, the winner is selected by "Mad Men" Creator and Executive Producer Matthew Weiner for a walk-on role in Season 5, debuting next spring.

The collection will be featured in Banana Republic's fall advertising campaign which will appear in September publications, supplemented by print, outdoor, online, direct mail and in store. In addition, Banana Republic Facebook fans gain early access to a pre-sale of the full collection (www.facebook.com/bananarepublic) on August 10, 2011.

ABOUT BANANA REPUBLIC

Banana Republic is a global accessible luxury brand that delivers modern, soulful and effortless style. Banana Republic's lifestyle collections are characterized by elevated design and luxurious fabrications at approachable prices. Banana Republic collections include apparel, handbags, jewelry, fragrance and eyewear. Banana Republic, a division of San Francisco-based, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), can be found at over 600 retail locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, Italy, BananaRepublic.com, BananaRepublic.ca, BananaRepublic.eu, or (888) BR-STYLE. In addition, Banana Republic is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.

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ABOUT "MAD MEN"

"Mad Men" debuted in July 2007 and has gone on to win three consecutive Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Drama Series (2008, 2009, 2010), a first for a basic cable series, three consecutive Golden Globe® Awards for Best Television Series-Drama, and a Peabody award (2008), among other accolades. The series has gained unprecedented recognition and has been hailed as, "one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows ever," by The New York Post.  TV Guide called it, "the number one television show of the year," while The New York Times hailed it a "cultural phenomenon..."

"Mad Men" is created, written and executive produced by Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winner Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate.

ABOUT AMC

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years.  Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories.  AMC's original stories include "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead," "The Killing" and "Hell on Wheels."  AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with AMC's Docu-Stories, a slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC's Can't Get Enough and AMC's Crazy About.  Available in more than 97 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is owned and operated by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central.  AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.  AMC: Story Matters Here(SM).

SOURCE Banana Republic