Quote:
Originally Posted by
v0rtex 
I've also noticed a lot of it is /direct/ rip-offs of catwalk pieces, especially Prada and Dior Homme. Hence I'd say it was more fashion-forward/european styled than Banana Republic.
That's actually the basis of their entire business model (Fast Fashion is the term newspapers like to use). I've read it takes them about 3 weeks to get an idea from concept to in the stores, compared to 6 months+ for traditional clothing companies (Gap, etc). Since they can churn out new ideas so quickly, that's why a) you see a lot of current runway stuff in their collections, b) they make most everything in small, one run batches, so their stock changes a lot. Pretty cool concept, the Economist and a few other big newspapers have done articles on them, makes for interesting reading.
Anyways, everything I've bought from them has lasted and lasted, the quality is very good for the price.