Banana Republic, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.harlequin-design.com

We cant help but love this aesthetic and the tones here work perfectly for the months ahead.  Bust forms have been suspended in a gravitational format from these extendable metal structures with a kind of woven structure forming the backdrop.  Artisan stools have also been placed in a repetition format onto which have been placed beautiful footwear.  Do swing by this specialty retailer and take a closer look at this scheme if you can (at their Oxford street store) as it really does look quite delicious.  Additionally, want to see bigger images then follow us on twitter and you will be able to see these in more detail.

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Banana Republic, London

Banana appear to be on a bit of a sustainability roll; we've spotted an additional nod to sustainability at DKNY along Bond street too and this is a welcomed direction from global brands.  Anthroplogie is still 'King' of them all of course as there schemes always appear to be embedded in a sustainability philosophy.  It is easier of course to throw a lot of money at a scheme to generate impact (which naturally is always appreciated) although the real skill in visual presentation comes from 'working' a scheme to communicate a narrative particularly in large spaces and great to see this speciality brand holding their nerve particularly in such a difficult market.

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Banana Republic, London

As a speciality wear provider, Banana recently has been looking so good.  With their Grey back drop, bicycle graphics in a repetition format, bicycle prop and of course their 'What moves you' strap line, the simplicity of their schemes appears to be their strength and gives clear differentiation from the other other retailers along the main drag of Regent street.  We often wonder, that, if we removed the the logos from the outside of some of the stores on the high street whether we would ever know the difference between some of these mid range retailers; these kinds of schemes besides being great to view do help to give that differentiation and of course are most welcome.  

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Banana Republic, London

Great to see another rocking scheme from Banana and presenting another sustainable scheme demonstrating that lavish schemes are not always necessary if the installation is produced with care and attention.  Of course, budgets are critical to these brands and their presentations and the bigger the better is always helpful although great to see the direction this brand have taken recently. 

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Banana Republic, London

Banana has been looking really, really interesting recently.  Even in Sale time their windows looked as if someone was taking care with their schemes.  This is appreciated.  We recently showed their nod to recycling / eco scheme which was particularly great to view as so many global brands appear to adopt a one scheme for all approach while ignoring that Glocalism is critically important right now and as savvy shoppers we want something which taps into our own local vibe rather than one which was the most cost effective to send out to all stores regardless.     

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Banana Republic, London

Sustainability of course is on the lips of any brand who wants to tap into the savvy shopper and as we are finding from our own research even the 'digital natives' want a slice.  This is a very bold and yet very welcomed move from this Global brand which appears to have become rather more 'Glocal'.  Finally a brand which is tapping into the vibe around it and a localised sensitivity adopted.  We have a feeling that we will see this brand around for a lot longer than we previously thought and great to see it is recognising that some of us do actually care about the environment and presentations don't always have to be super glossy to be effective.  Lo-tech is great too.  Big kudos to Banana we think.

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Banana Republic, London

Finally we have a bit of humour in a window.....relief..!  We adore the clever simplicity of this scheme at Banana Republic right now and such clever balance of colour, texture and line. If it wasn't deliberate it doesn't matter but look how your eye moves from the Yellow of the umbrella to the Redness of the mannequins skirt on the right of the image below and up to the strands above and then back to the Umbrella. Great composition here and great slogan.  We don't care what anyone else says, they do have a sense of fun after all.

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Banana Republic, London

We're finally back in town after a few weeks scouring and researching around Berlin, and yes its that dreaded time of year again; Valentines.  Grrrr.  Thankfully, most retailers have chosen to ignore it, hurrah, so we only have a few select schemes to show you this week.  OK, well there are the obligatory Hearts everywhere although we must say there are a few interesting interpretations of it which of course makes things a little more interesting.  Anyway, here ya go.  Banana have post it notes on their window on a White shaped heart with the strap line 'Things we love....'

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Banana Republic, London

This is a very deliciously moody scheme at Banana right now and another brand taking part in the RIBA collaborations.  The installation by Make Architects 'unifies the key themes behind Banana Republic's AW collection with an optical illusion which enables the passers-by to experience two of the key product pillars taking shape through the complex geometrical forms as they move around the object' (yes, we're not quite sure what they mean either).  It does look so interesting though.

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Banana Republic, London

We haven't included this brand for while, but usually when we don't include a brand its not because we don't like them or that we have an issue with them but only because they haven't produced anything very interesting or we just whizz by regardless en route to another retailer.  Of course this current scheme looks fantastic and you have to see it in the 'flesh' to truly appreciate its large swathes of paper and graphic lines in these enormous spaces.  Collaborations between brands always adds a refreshing perspective to the shopping experience and this one between Roland Mouret and the brand looks particularly interesting.  Go, look and experience for yourself.

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Banana Republic, London

Good old Banana is looking slightly 'old school' at the moment; this is a good thing.  We haven't seen props laid out on flooring like this for quite some time and it looks great.  Of course there are references to their product which you can probably find through their website.  The mannequins have been wired very well too.  If you are not familiar with wiring it is a traditional technique of securing a mannequin in place without the use of base plates and which these days is usually the reserve of department stores or luxury brands; so very refreshing to see this technique in a global brand.

Banana Republic, London

Ooohhh, loving the Blue and the Lime stripes here at Banana.  This scheme is of course a little reminiscent of a Police line up again without the added height measurements but the colours do look great with the merchandise.  The wiring on some of the figures is rather dodgy however; just look at how far these wires are away from the mannequins feet like they have either had a huge argument or trying to escape one another.  Cu'mon guys, a few painted blocks under the mannequins feet to keep her steady and get those wires closer.  We can swing by and show you how for a small fee if you need us?  Good old fashioned techniques very much needed here.

Banana Republic, London

Wow, we love the latest scheme at Banana right now.  We're Mad for Mod too and this just ticks all of those boxes so well.  We just cant help love the style of this scheme.......we have a feeling that we know where this design comes from of course as we recognise the style, however we also love the repetition of these radiating forms as a backdrop and the mannequins are dressed and positioned so well too.  We're not sure which company produced these figures used here although we suspect Rootstein as the realism is always so fantastically accurate and the nipples on the females are so remarkable pointed.  Considering how cold it is here in London, this is no surprise of course.  Brands that we have worked with before used to make us shave the nipples off or apply sticky plasters; we prefer the realism and the boys love it too.

Banana Republic, London

We've ranted just a 'smidge' this week and perhaps we have been just a little bit too grumpy; its probably the weather. So......we've decided to cheer ourselves up and go an take a look at the new installation at Banana Republic.  Out sized props are always good fun so this is a little winner of scheme on that front at their site on Regent street.  The NYC cityscape and a promotion too...;o)  Still, the fabric props are well made and good fun and....just look at this vibrant Yellow. 

Banana Republic, London

Wow, London windows are looking so good right now and we absolutely love this scheme at Banana on Regent street.  We're often quite critical of this brand and we don't always like what they do (does it matter what we think anyway?), but hats off to these guys who have pulled off this scheme quite superbly.  We haven't noticed a trend in 'travel' as a leading theme recently but it is Summer time, it is holiday time so from a seasonal angle this is absolutely right for now.  Its glamorous, its fun and does what it does quite superbly.

Banana Republic, London

With an explosion of Red, White and Blue here at Banana Republic, we were certainly drawn in.  We particularly love the three dimensional aspect of this scheme but wish they had implemented it in every window.  Ah well.  Its Red, White and Blue, so sort of patriotic.....although to whom its not quite clear.

Banana Republic, London

Regent st. here in London is buzzing right now.  With the pending opening of the new Burberry and .........OK well, we're less that enthusiastic about Hollister...... but then Austin Reed, Aquascutum and Habitat weren't cutting it so we guess is was only ever going to be inevitable with their arrival here.  But anyway, the British determination to make Art statements thankfully prevails and this year the Regents Street Windows project is ever more welcome.  At Banana, the Architects Ushida Findlay and Visitor Studio have this incredible installation in place to entertain, to provoke and amaze us all.  We weren't massively drawn in initially, but then that could be something to do with the 'plastique' Zebras in Banana's regular windows, however, we soon discovered that this splash like form is actually laser cut animals in a tinted Eco resin; ever more visible in a photograph.  We aren't sure that it 'revokes childhood memories of play while capturing the theme of Banana Republic' - doesn't this sounds as if it has been badly translated and has that hint of nauseous sentimentality about it?  That said, it does look incredibly so damned good and we would have loved to have seen this in all of the windows here.  Although, its OK, we have 'plastique-my-little-Zebras' to view instead and that's OK, right?

Banana Republic, London

One week later............clocks still there then.........

Banana Republic, London

Oh VM gawd help us....not the repetition of clocks......again?????  How may times do we need to see this on the high street...like we've-never-seen-that-one-before?  Strangely we really do like what this brand do and the team are clearly more than able to produce quality schemes, so we suspect this is one of those global-head-office-completely-out-of-touch-with-what-is-happening-anywhere-else kinda schemes?  The out-sized angle poise lamps look great (although Harvey Niks did the cut out malarkey a few years ago).  Cu'mon guys....your implementation is superb but the concepts are dated, done before countless times and we're bored, bored, bored with the same stuff dredged up time and time again.  If we say nothing, then we accept everything as it is...and that's just not right, is it?  Follow your own strap line.....'work different'??

Banana Republic, London

We wrote about this scheme a short while ago here at Banana Republic.  Unfortunately, we were rather hasty and on the ball....or bauble (!).......and wrote about it before it had been completed.  The guys here have worked incredibly hard, this scheme looks absolutely fun and we keep going back for more and more views.  From across the street (Regent Street) this scheme, in conjunction with other retailers looks absolutely superb.  Well done guys...........sorry we got there before you had finished, however it really is fantastic.