A store called the Banana Republic was opened in San Francisco in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler. Both the Zieglers worked for the San Franciso Chronicle, Mel was a writer and Patricia an illustrator.
Banana Republic specialized in casual Safari styles and Army Surplus clothing. Many of the utilitarian items had sturdy zips and snaps and were double-stitched and reinforced. The store sold desert army hats, sheepskin vests, shorts and other items of travel clothing to armchair travelers. The garments were designed by the Zieglers for people to wear when mountain hiking or rafting. Source

Ralph J. Lauren was born in the New York City borough of The Bronx to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants Fraydl and Frank Lifshitz, his father was a house painter.
From a very young age, he started working after school to earn money to buy stylish, expensive suits with an early preference for quality over quantity. His attire soon gave him a trendy reputation among his peers. The well-known Calvin Klein, a younger contemporary also lived in the same Bronx neighbourhood. Source

Nine West or 9 West is a subdivision of Jones Apparel Group. Nine West is a women's fashion retailer/wholesaler with offices in sixty countries. There are chains of stores from Hawaii to Maine. It was co-founded by Jack Fisher. The footwear offices are located in White Plains, NY.
Distribution of all Nine West Goods in the United States is processed through 2 large warehouses both located in West Deptford, NJ. Source

Apparel, shoes and accessories.

Returning after a season's maternity leave, Phoebe sent out a collection with crisp new shapes, proportions and vigour. A line dresses and stiffer couture fabrics were used with flares from the shoulder, and swinging skirts with models on great chunky platform shoes. Sixties ruffled skirts (so popular this season) were intricately worked in crunchy embroidery, organza applique and frills. Lots of new accessories like handbags were seen this season. Source

The name Bottega Veneta means “Venetian atelier” and the company was begun to produce artisanal leather goods. The company’s artisans developed a leather-weaving technique, called intrecciato, that remains a signature of the brand.
In the years since, Bottega Veneta has introduced additions to the collection, including fine jewelry, eyewear, home fragrance, and furniture, while continuing to offer an assortment of handbags, shoes, small leather goods, luggage, home items, and gifts. Bottega Veneta presented its first women’s ready-to-wear runway show in February 2005 and its first men’s runway show in June 2006. Today, ready-to-wear and furniture presentations are held in the corporate offices in Milan.

With a motto of “Quality First,” it is no wonder that Esprit has shaken the fashion world with its uniqueness, cost efficiency and reliability in the world of fashion. Starting as a clothing fashion store on wheels being sold from the back of a station wagon, Esprit has changed the landscape of clothing and raised the bar on value production. With over 800 directly managed retail stores and 14,000 wholesale outlets worldwide, the New York City Esprit location instills a sense of superiority to all who walk through its doors. With wares ranging from casual men and women’s clothing to time wear, eyewear, jewelry and more, this Manhattan clothing shop is truly a splendid array of quality products all under one roof. Most recently, Esprit acquired the rights to Red Earth and now distributes its cosmetics, skin and body products, adding an even richer assortment of selection to the Esprit line. Esprit continues to push the bar with everything they venture into and it would be foolhardy to miss a trip to one of the world’s largest fashion chains. If you are in Manhattan, make sure to shop at Esprit and experience the quality for yourself.

Every elegant woman, whether residing in or visiting New York, deserves to shop at this exclusive clothing store. For fashion that doesn’t stop at the door, go to the astounding Anne Fontaine fashion empire located in beautiful Manhattan. Anne Fontaine has reinvented everything that is considered simple and designed some of the most valued and exquisite blouses in all of the acclaimed fashion world. Using creatively innovative techniques, Anne Fontaine has taken the mundane white shirt and developed a literal cornucopia of designs and styles not seen anywhere else in the fashion designer world. Once you visit this Manhattan clothing, store you will also see the design and quality craftsmanship that goes beyond the shirts and lends itself to the variety of other jewelry, clothing and accessories now available for purchase in their stores. Anne Fontaine has over 70 locations world-wide including stores in Paris, Tokyo, Chicago and London and has quickly established itself as a worldwide leader in shirt design. With a friendly staff, a well-maintained quality location and the desire to help make you look fabulous, Manhattan’s Anne Fontaine is a must stop New York Clothing shop for anyone to visit.

Ungaro retired and sold the label to internet entrepreneur Asim Abdullah in 2005. After the sale, the label was languished with a revolving door of designers, the last of which, Esteban Cortazar, who was appointed in 2007, was fired two years later after his refusal to work with actress Lindsay Lohan. Subsequently, Lohan was appointed Artistic Director, working with new head designer Estrella Archs, who was hired hastily to replace Cortazar.[3] The introduction of Lohan, which was meant to give the label publicity, was received with shock and dismay in Paris Fashion Week 2009.[3] In 2010, during Paris Fashion Week, Lindsay Lohan announced that she was no longer working for or with Ungaro, and that she could not comment on the matter because of legal issues. Source

Max has used macramme this season, as embellishments on top of soft jersey dresses. Also present were gold and wood beading, flax embroidered linen jackets and silk peasant blouses with twill shorts. A creamy leather cape topped long dresses, and belts cinched in curvy coats. He put snakeskin flat footwear on all his models. It was a personal and laid back collection. Source

Being touted as a “Manhattan Flagship in the Works,” New York City clothing store Celine is quickly becoming one of the biggest players in the fashion world. Celine fashion clothing store is a subsidiary of French multinational conglomerate LVMH and has been allowed to shine with LVMH’s inspired outlook on business and fashion. With its Manhattan fashion clothing store located on famous Madison Avenue, Celine captured the imagination by offering inspired dresses, jackets, luggage and blouses designed by the impeccable Michael Kors until 2004. Following the coming and going of several world renowned designers, Celine began featuring prestigious collections by Phoebe Philo. Philo, a fabulous designer who became famous for her work with Chloe, has re-invented the Celine line with her own unique styles and visionary guidance. As a result, Celine has jumped astronomically in editorial credit ranking, listing it with the top 10 in most major markets, according to the label’s CEO Marco Gobbetti, and continues to make a cultural impact. As a leader in Manhattan clothing retailers, a hot and trendy brand and an astounding shopping experience, look no further than an afternoon’s fashion shopping spree at Celine’s.

Christian Dior, an influential French fashion designer. He was born in Granville, Manche, Normandy, France. Dior flagship boutiques are found in Paris, London, Milan, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. owns and operates three retail clothing brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People. The first store opened in 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, focusing on "funky" fashion and household products. Today, the Urban Outfitters line has expanded from vintage, bohemian, retro, ironically humorous, kitschy, and oddly designed apparel and furniture to include many luxury brands such as Lacoste, Evisu, Diesel, True Religion and Seven for All Mankind. Currently headquartered in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Urban operates more than 140 shops in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Source

A high-end high street clothing retailer with more than 69 stores in North America. It is owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. An international men’s and women’s lifestyle brand with a distinctly urban casual point of view, best defined as a play of opposites: mining vintage with new, hard with soft and eclecticism with minimalism. Each season, Club Monaco offers customers must have fashion and key pieces that together are the foundation of a modern wardrobe.

Manhattan is full of lots of lovely clothing stores, but not so many stores that are purely shoes and accessories. Roger Vivier changed that. One of the largest shoe selections you've ever seen, everything from pumps, to stilettos, to flats in a vast array of colors and styles. The shoes are high quality - very beautifully made and long lasting. When you step into this store, you honestly feel like you're walking into a fashion model's closet. You will truly be the envy of all of your friends. Few New York City fashion stores carry Vivier's collections, and if they do, they are very limited. Very stylish, the Spring-Summer 2012 line is colorful and fun. If you happen to wander in and you aren't looking for shoes, don't fret. They have three floors of accessories, purses, shades, and truly unique jewelry, as well as their extensive shoe selection. You'll find the perfect topper to any summer outfit here, and you'll turn heads with it. If you haven't been introduced to this lovely store yet, do yourself a massive favor and stop in. You'll never forget your experience in this beautiful and large store.

After traveling to India in the early '70s, Ferré dove into fashion, first with accessories, and later, launching his own label, Baila, in 1974. Signature women's and men's collections soon followed, and Ferré stepped onto the field of high fashion with the debut of his couture line in 1986. He took his philosophy to the house of Christian Dior, where he was stylistic director from 1989 to 1997. Still influenced by his first trips to Asia, Ferré's designs display an East-meets-West aesthetic that vehemently rejects trends and gimmicks, concentrating instead on a relaxed sophistication and casual elegance.

Etro is synoonymous of style. It is a lifestyle based upon quality and sophistication, not only in terms of desigh, but also regarding materials and production techniques.

For any young business woman, Akris, located in Manhattan right off of Madison Avenue, is a stylish new twist on business attire. They have business ensembles with clean lines, gorgeous knit wear and double closure jackets, plus bright jackets and dresses. This New York City fashion boutique has absolutely gorgeous apparel and is perfect for any woman in the business world. You've never seen such elegant clothing gathered into one store. The store is very clean and proper, organized perfectly. The employees are sweet and helpful, very smart and they add to the professional atmosphere of the store. Even if you aren't a business woman, it is a great store for any classy party or gathering you may be going to. Swiss designer Albert Kriemler, designs for the woman’s personality to eclipse her apparel. The styles are mature and elegant representing perhaps the newest trends that will be touching down Spring-Summer 2012. If you feel the need to dress classy, with the small pop of color, and look more professional and smart, look no further. You'll look and feel very business-like and yet for those after hour affairs, you will certainly turn heads.

After 20 years in the surf, skate and snowboard business, founder Chip Wilson took the first commercial yoga class offered in Vancouver and found the result exhilarating. The post yoga feeling was so close to surfing and snowboarding that it seemed obvious that yoga was an ideology whose time had come (again).