Banana Republic: Marissa Webb appointed new creative director

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Apr 17, 2014

Gap Inc. is announcing some changing in Banana Republic’s creative direction following the departure of the brand’s vice president of design, Simon Keen, at the end of 2013. The American company has just appointed Marissa Webb to the post of creative director and executive vice president of design.

Reporting directly to the brand’s president, Jack Calhoun, Webb’s first collection is planned for spring/summer 2015. The choice of the designer by Gap seems intended to bring a Modern American style to Banana Republic. Born in Korea, but having grown up in the United States, Webb has worked at Polo Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco as well as at J Crew, where she headed their womenswear division for more than ten years.

In spring 2013, she presented her own label’s first collection. Following the lead of many luxury brands, Gap has become minority shareholder its new creative director’s fashion house. Undoubtedly, this investment is a way to secure the brand’s fashion credentials and to continue to develop, or rather to return to growth.

Over the course of the last fiscal year, ending on February 1, Banana Republic saw its total sales fall by 1% to 2.8 billion US dollars (about 2 billion euros). In 2012, it recorded a 5% rise. The brand’s network includes 596 branches in North America, 43 in Asia and 11 in Europe.