Donating $25K to the Gender Cool Project
In celebration of Pride Month, Banana Republic has commissioned four LGBTQIA+ artists to create unique pieces incorporating vintage Banana Republic garments. These one-of-a-kind works of art will be exhibited in the windows of five key Banana Republic stores nationwide in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, underscoring the brand’s ongoing commitment to championing diversity, inclusivity and community.
The four artists — Serge Gay Jr., Andy Bellomo, Parisa Parnian, and Marcos Chin — use fashion as a form of expression, with style playing an important role in each artist’s life, both professionally and personally. Embracing vibrant colors, bold patterns and statement illustrations are a recurring theme for each uniquely crafted piece telling a story of resilience and resourcefulness. Banana Republic partnered with the four artists with the aim to inspire other LGBTQIA+ creatives, leveraging the brand’s platforms to amplify the artists’ work and stories
Being able to share my queerness and my message through my work with a company that has a large platform is awesome. I wouldn’t be able to have that kind of a reach otherwise”
– Marcos Chin
The collaboration with BR represents unity and made me think about how we can bring two stories together into one. I’m such a storyteller, and when it comes to collaboration, I like to learn about who I’m working with and how I can incorporate my story in this journey together.”
– Serge Gay Jr.
In Queer culture, style is a language we speak privately to one another that is personal and undeniably ours.”
– Andy Bellomo
This flight suit, resurrected from the Banana Republic archives, is not only an exquisite canvas for me to play on as a visual artist and designer, but also the perfect piece of fashion history to bring my own story and journey full circle”
– Parisa Parnian
The five Banana Republic locations that will display the unique creations during the month of June are Grant Avenue in San Francisco, Rockefeller Center in New York City, Aventura in Miami, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and Century City in Los Angeles. To bring the project to life beyond the storefront, each store window will display a QR code directing viewers to a post on Banana Republic’s online Journal, featuring conversations with each of the artists.