Donald Kohler, a veteran of several prominent fashion brands for three decades, will join Gap Inc.’s Banana Republic division as global brand president and chief executive officer in July.
Kohler fills a position that’s been vacant for two years since the departure of Sandra Stangl. He joins Banana Republic at a time of transformation and when it’s showing some sales momentum. The brand has been working to strengthen an identity based on storytelling and evoking travel, adventure and what it terms “the modern explorer.” Bestselling classic Banana styles of the past are being reimagined and contemporized.
Related Articles
Kohler was mostly recently with PVH Corp., where he served as CEO of PVH Americas, overseeing Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and the company’s regional retail, e-commerce, wholesale and licensing businesses.
You May Also Like
Prior to PVH, Kohler held senior roles at Burberry, Ferragamo and Diesel, where he has been credited with strengthening brand positioning and operations, and leading “consumer-focused transformations,” according to Gap Inc. Earlier, Kohler spent more than a decade at Gap Inc. in merchandising roles at the Gap, GapKids and babyGap brands.
“Returning to Gap Inc. is deeply meaningful for me,” Kohler said in a statement Tuesday. “Banana Republic has extraordinary heritage and a powerful opportunity to inspire today’s consumer through elevated product, immersive storytelling and a cohesive customer journey. I believe great brands are built by great teams, and I look forward to getting to know the Banana Republic team and building what’s next together.”
“Donald began his career in product at Gap brand, where he developed his instincts for great design, impactful merchandising and powerful storytelling,” Richard Dickson, Gap Inc.’s CEO, said in his statement on the appointment. “Just as importantly, he is deeply respected as a people leader who builds trust and develops high-performing teams. That rare combination of operational excellence and brand building positions him well to lead Banana Republic’s next chapter — building on the brand’s momentum and reinvigoration as a modern explorer brand.”
Banana Republic has been hanging in for decades, seeking to reconnect with consumers through a succession of repositionings, from the original safari style to serious careerwear to business casual, and as of late, some modern utility. The path has been bumpy, marked by store fleet downsizings, management changes, logo changes, category introductions of mixed success and an inability to attract the next generation of shoppers. It’s also at times been highly promotional, impacting its caché.
But lately Banana Republic, through the renewed focus on elevated classics and storytelling, seems to be regaining some relevance and reversing negative sales trends. Banana Republic’s fourth-quarter sales rose 1 percent to $549 million, and comparable sales rose 4 percent, marking the brand’s third consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth. Full-year sales were down 1 percent to $1.9 billion, though comparable sales were up 3 percent. Comparable sales are more meaningful than total sales because they show organic growth, rather than growth by adding stores or declines by closing stores.
“Banana is getting really precise and defined in its assortments. There’s better product, better storytelling,” Dickson said when the fourth-quarter figures were issued last March. “Men’s continues to have momentum. Women’s is catching up and becoming more consistent with strength in denim skirts and sweaters.” Dickson has been very involved in repositioning the brand while it operated without a president. He has expressed confidence in the Banana Republic team.
As part of its transformation efforts, Banana Republic launched a White Lotus 24-piece capsule collection in March 2025 based on the third season of the hit HBO series, set in Thailand, of the same title. The collection featured packable men’s and women’s apparel and accessories in turquoise, navy, red and yellow; graphic prints fluid silhouettes and premium fabrics, and was an example of Banana gaining consumer relevance by tying into what was a popular television series. Gap Inc. indicated the partnership worked because it “connected entertainment, travel and style in a way that felt natural to the brand.”
Last month, Banana Republic collaborated with The Explorers Club, a 120-year-old institution dedicated to exploration, field research, science and conservation, to launch an “Archive Reissue” capsule collection reimagining through a contemporary lens some of the brand’s best styles from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The 20-piece capsule collection was displayed at select Banana Republic stores in major cities, as well as in the brand’s stores in Japan, and on the website. The collaboration continues through this year. Last September, the Banana Republic Archive was launched, offering limited-run vintage styles and drops. To enhance the narrative, Abandoned Republic, a digital collection of catalogues and brand-centric memorabilia, was acquired.
According to a statement from Gap Inc. on Tuesday, “Banana Republic is regaining momentum by reconnecting with what has always made the brand distinctive: elevated product, rich storytelling and a spirit of curiosity and adventure. The progress is showing up across the numbers, the product and the culture.…Banana Republic is a storyteller’s brand, outfitting the modern explorer with high-quality, expertly crafted collections and experiences to inspire and enrich their journeys. Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, Banana Republic connects with customers across online and company-operated and franchise retail locations globally.”
Gap Inc.’s efforts to deepen its involvement in entertainment, culture and storytelling extends beyond Banana Republic to other brands in its portfolio, which also includes Gap, Old Navy and Athleta. To that end, some Hollywood-type executives have been hired. Last week, Lourdes Arocho was named senior vice president and head of licensing, which is a new position at the company. Arocho was with Paramount Global, now called Paramount Skydance, as senior vice president, global consumer products and franchise management, leading licensing and franchise strategy. She is reporting to Pam Kaufman, executive vice president and chief entertainment officer, who joined Gap Inc. in January after serving as Paramount’s president and CEO of international markets, global consumer products and experiences. Arocho was Kaufman’s first key hire, but she is building a team based in Los Angeles.
Banana Republic was founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler as a catalogue specializing in surplus military clothing, safari jackets and adventure wear, with colorful illustrations and content that reads like a travelogue. Later, stores featuring exotic decor like Jeeps dangling from the ceiling and live foliage enhanced the aura. Banana Republic was acquired by Gap Inc. in 1983.