
October 22, 2015
Played-out?

The author’s favorite Playboy cover, from June 1961
Founded in 1978, Banana Republic’s core products were travel-oriented, khaki-colored safari clothing and accessories. In 1983, after The Gap bought the company, the BR brand was transformed overnight into a luxury fashion retailer. Although it retained its questionable brand name, signifying South American dictatorships governed by North American fruit corporations, it became a shopping staple for the Baby Boomer-Yuppie crowd. Many clothing, food, and entertainment businesses have totally changed their styles and core content for demographic reasons, but usually these shifts were done with evolutionary caution. Last week a world famous brand announced an unexpected, revolutionary change that caught the world off-guard.
What if Disney lost its mouse, McDonald’s took burgers and fries off the menu, Lay’s gave up on potatoes altogether, The New York Times no longer covered the news, R.J. Reynolds stopped producing cigarettes, or Trump International made The Donald disappear?
Observed
View all
Observed
By Steven Heller
Related Posts

Business
Courtney L. McCluney, PhD|Essays
Rest as reparations: reimagining how we invest in Black women entrepreneurs

Design Impact
Seher Anand|Essays
Food branding without borders: chai, culture, and the politics of packaging

Graphic Design
Sarah Gephart|Essays
A new alphabet for a shared lived experience

Arts + Culture
Nila Rezaei|Essays
“Dear mother, I made us a seat”: a Mother’s Day tribute to the women of Iran
Recent Posts
Minefields and maternity leave: why I fight a system that shuts out women and caregivers Candace Parker & Michael C. Bush on Purpose, Leadership and Meeting the MomentCourtney L. McCluney, PhD|Essays
Rest as reparations: reimagining how we invest in Black women entrepreneurs Food branding without borders: chai, culture, and the politics of packagingRelated Posts

Business
Courtney L. McCluney, PhD|Essays
Rest as reparations: reimagining how we invest in Black women entrepreneurs

Design Impact
Seher Anand|Essays
Food branding without borders: chai, culture, and the politics of packaging

Graphic Design
Sarah Gephart|Essays
A new alphabet for a shared lived experience

Arts + Culture
Nila Rezaei|Essays