A Brief Overview of How Banana Republic Was Started

Eva Lea Klein studied architectural design at KAFAAT University in Brazil. After working as a manager in the retail industry, Eva Lea Klein served as a tailor with worldwide fashion retailer Banana Republic. 

Banana Republic was co-founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler. Making an initial investment of $1,500, the couple launched the business with a determination to make it different than any other fashion retailer in terms of its clothing lines and marketing strategies. The founders valued freedom of expression and originality as much as earning an income from the business.

The Zieglers' original vision for the fashion line was to locate vintage military surplus fashion items and make them suitable for resale. However, the clothing brand eventually expanded to sell well-tailored casual clothing items made from natural fabrics. Since 1983, after being purchased by fashion retailer Gap, the company has existed as a division and now has over 600 stores in operation around the globe.

Things Tailors Do and What They Don’t Do

For more than 15 years, Eva Lea Klein worked as a seller at a Sears-like retail store in Brazil. During this time, she handled any responsibilities that her father needed help with and eventually took on all managerial roles at the store. After moving to the United States, Eva Lea Klein joined Banana Republic in Florida as a tailor. She held this role for nearly 10 years.

Tailors are capable of making a lot of changes to various types of garments, but they can’t work miracles. With pants, tailors can maximize length by dropping the hem down as far as possible and finishing the inside. They also are able to remove the front pockets so pants appear slimmer. 

However, they can only take pants in or out by about two inches. Anything more messes up the balance of the pants and results in an awkward-looking garment. Further, tailors cannot stitch closed holes that are not on the seam. However, they may be able to recommend a good reweaving service for this particular problem.

In terms of tops, tailors often shorten straps so that a dress or top fits the torso better and has bust darts that are properly placed. Blazer and coat sleeves can be shortened to fit a person’s individual arm lengths, and sheer garments can be lined. Tailors can also rework a neckline so that there is more or less skin showing. 

Tailors can’t make extreme changes to tops. Alterations that change a top by more than four inches are typically not possible, nor are alterations that adjust the shoulders when there is too much fabric.