What’s old is often what’s new in fashion, and Banana Republic is tapping into that with the launch of the Banana Republic Archive.

As the name implies, there will be styles from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that will be offered in limited-run drops and what the brand described as “immersive storytelling.” To enhance that narrative, Banana Republic has acquired the Abandoned Republic, a digital collection of catalogues and brand-centric memorabilia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Secondhand apparel continues to gain ground with shoppers, and is expected to become a $367 billion business by 2029, according to a ThredUp Resale Report. Last year 58 percent of consumers bought secondhand apparel compared to 52 percent in 2023.

For starters, Banana Republic Archive will debut with a capsule collection curated by the stylist and The Society Archive founder Marcus Allen. The range of 70 vintage styles will include a leather aviator jacket, a yellow raincoat circa 1992, a denim jumpsuit and a stone Irish linen shirt. Retail prices will start at $60 and go up to $700, with most items selling for less than $300.

Those in search of other vintage pieces will find cargo vests, plaid flannel shirts, distressed T-shirts and utility pants, among other styles, starting Thursday. The smattering of vintage styles will be sold online via a drop down on Banana Republic’s main site, and in its flagship in SoHo in Manhattan and its Westfield Century City location in Los Angeles.

As for whether the brand plans to introduce a buyback program or sell vintage pieces on a larger scale, head of marketing Meena Anvary said, “We’re still in the early stages of shaping this, and we’ll continue to keep you updated as we introduce new components”

Banana Republic is not alone in reviving its past to boost sales and attract new consumers. Other brands like L.L. Bean, Ralph Lauren and Fanatics have offered vintage assortments periodically. And others like Patagonia do so on an ongoing basis. L.L. Bean is planning its own immersive experience with next month’s opening of its first New York Residency at 416 West Broadway. The location will be open from Oct. 18 through Nov. 30.

Banana Republic’s acquisition of Abandoned Republic, which was started by Robyn Adams, adds another dimension to its own storytelling. The founder will serve as an adviser. Adams first got a hankering for the brand when her Alaskan adventurer father started buying its clothes and gave her the catalogues. As an artist she was taken by the apparel and the illustrations. Adams later studied in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco. Oakland is now the base for the graphic designer and illustrator, who started her Abandoned Republic archive in 2011.

Anvary said Abandoned Republic was acquired “in recognition and appreciation of the remarkable work of its passionate archivists, ensuring their dedication continues to inspire and engage a broader community.”

Visitors to the Abandoned Republic site will learn how Banana Republic started in a flea market in Marin County, Calif., in 1978. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter, Mel Ziegler, and his courtroom sketch artist wife Patricia Gwilliam Ziegler began sourcing vintage military apparel and adding their own DIY accents, after being inspired by a well-worn bush jacket that he bought in Australia. To try drum up interest in Spanish military shirts with unusually short sleeves, the couple created a backstory and followed up with their own catalogue. Banana Republic opened its first store in 1978, and five years later the founders sold the company to Gap Inc.