Israeli Paratrooper Briefcase
Without a doubt this is one of the best remembered items from 1980s Banana Republic, a book bag for countless students, I took full advantage of its generous pen holders and used it as a sketchbook carrying bag for many years. Even today it’s a great laptop bag, though a padded laptop sleeve would be a smart addition. Vintage BR bags show up online with some frequency. The original was actually made in Israel and was originally surplus from the Israeli Defense Forces.
From the catalogue: “When called away suddenly on business (to Entebbe, for example), it can be hard to organize paperwork. To cope with the kind of bureaucratic entanglements that accompany international brinksmanship, the fast descending Israeli paratrooper takes along a durable briefcase-one with D-rings, a padded adjustable shoulder strap, three big inside compartments appropriate for legal pads, and an exterior flap pocket sized to suit a ponderous paperback. Also: two rows of sturdy loops for implements mightier than swords.”
The earliest appearance of the bag I note is the 1985 Holiday catalog and it ran all the way to the last catalog in Fall 1988. It was later listed in the post-Safari 1989 catalog. Matching Duffle Bags and Backpacks were also produced in that time. The bag has been in production since as a knockoff can be found new today , though without the Stars N Bananas logo inside and presumably of much less quality.
The 1985 Holiday catalog is the first appearance I have of the IPB bag.
A mint condition dead-stock IPB from my personal; collection. The pricetag is for $29.00.
I display it with an authentic bag-check tag I bought from a shopper who nabbed it from one of the Manhattan locations.
oh my god i had my for YEARS…i may even still have it in a closet.
One of my children is using mine as a bookbag right now! I probably bought mine in 1985 or 1986 and used it all through college and on and on and on. Still looks great.
Just ran across this while wondering “whatever happened to…” I got one of these before my sophomore year in college (’88-’89) and carried it for a couple of years…very emblematic of my college experience and that of many people about my age. Mine’s probably still in a closet somewhere with my Walkman inside it containing a worn-out REM cassette, like everyone else’s. 😛
Mine was stolen by a houseguest who thought the manuscript to my novel was in it. It wasn’t, but I really missed that bag … it was so versatile. It even survived a leaking fountain pen with ease … the stain added character.
My bag has been around the world a few times, worn out, and torn but full of pins from places visited. Sure like to find an authentic replcement.
I still use mine daily. Best thing for lugging my laptop and papers to grade to and from work.
Do you know if BR ever made the bags with contrasting seam tape? I have come into possession of 3 IPB’s that have olive-ish bodies with khaki seam and edge tape?
Do they have BR Labels sewn in?
All have labels. 2 have the banana logo, the white “made in Israel” tag and the “Made in Israel 100% cotton” stamp. The third has the white and tan “travel and safari clothing” rectangle label and the “Made in Israel” stamp, so I know that bag is slightly newer. Sadly, one of the banana labeled bags looks to have been put through the wash and dryer, so it has a more khaki appearance overall.
I have an original Israeli Paratrooper bag stamped Made in Israel 100% cotton on the inside. There is NO Banana Republic label. The bag was a gift from an Israeli friend of mine who is a Captain in the IDF.
Just scored one of these on ebay, hurray! Obviously paid more than what the bag originally sold for ($25). I checked the ’84 and ’85 catalogs; You are correct in that the bag first appears in the Holiday ’85 issue, it’s featured on the back cover. This was one of those items I’d considered purchasing, but waited too long, until it disappeared from the catalog. It’s good to finally own one.
Just scored a deal at my local Goodwill and found the bag described. I immediately started using it after getting half off the original price they were charging it for. $10 became $7. Still in brand new condition. Despite the small stains here and there. It brings more character to the bag. Like its been in a battlefield. Totally in love.
I had to replace the strap on mine, but, I still use it as a laptop bag & an ‘everything I have to take to work bag’.
I don’t have it with me right now, but, I’ll have to check the label. I know it is stamped inside “Made in Israel”
I JUST RECEIVED A VINTAGE B.R. PARATROOPER BAG . IT HAS A 100% COTTON MADE IN ISRAEL CLOTH TAG SEWN INSIDE PLUS A BLACK STAMPED MADE IN ISRAEL 100% COTTON ON THE CANVAS AND LASTLY A CLOTH SEWN IN THE STAR AND BANANA LABEL ,YELLOW GREEN AND RED WITH SIMI VALLEY CALIFORNIA ON THE SIDES SIXE 1 3/4″ X1″. I WAS TOLD IT WAS PUCHASED AT AN ESTATE SALE IN VENTURA CALIFORNIA. WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT IT IS IN GREAT CONDITON NEVER BEEN WASHED AND LOOKS LIKE IT WAS STORED AWAY AND NEVER USED. ARE ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES THERE? WAS I LUCKY OR NOT . THANK YOU JANICE.
I received my bag in 1985 as a gift for christmas from my sister when I was 15. I still have it and am looking for a replacement strap and I have a hole on the back I’ll have to repair with a patch. The paratrooper logo has long disappeared as it was the bubbly kind back then.
My grandparents gave me one. It was stolen from my jeep in 1994 and thrown in the street. I got it back. And besides smelling like cat pee, it was fine. On 11/13/13 @ 2:13 pm, I (& it) were thrown 5 feet after being struck by a 5000 lb SUV. Not a scratch on it. (Not so much for me.)
Loved the bag, over the years I bought five of them. I jumped with the IDF in 1989 picked up two bags with my return to America. Over the years I decided to purchase a few additional bags to give to my kids. Wish I could still purchase more of the original bags.
I bought that very bag in 1987 from Banana Republic just a week before starting big, scary, intimidating HIGH SCHOOL 😂😂!! I remember after buying it (with my own $$) walking around the mall with my sister for about 35-40 minutes asking her if $30 was just too much to spend on a bag!! I’m the exact same way today over ‘big’ purchases (thankfully a $30 bag no longer qualifies). Anyway I had mine all 4 years of high school and at least the first 2 years of college before I switched to a backpack. This thing is built better than many houses are today…sad to say. Not sure what happened to my original but that one in the pictures is awesome…brings back so many great/funny memories. My 9th grade math teacher (Mrs Gnau a former nun turned provocative/downright sexy dresser..and not bad looking either for being older..well I was 14 so everyone was older..she was probably around 50 ) used to say “Nick-O-Lis one day I’m going to trip on that big green bag of yours and break my neck or my heels and I will not be pleased either way!” as she watched us doing our Algebra 1 problems. Great teacher..great bag..great memories!! Thanks for posting..I’d gladly pay the $29 price tag for this…alas, something tells me it’s not for sale…even if a 2 were placed in front of the 29!?!! I’m so glad I didn’t return it that day when I just couldn’t imagine a bag costing so much..😂😂😉
Thanks you for sharing! Love this story so much.
I got mine in about 88 I still have it to got through high school and college I loved it
I was a BR Guide in the mid eighties, and I bought MANY items there using my discount. The Israeli Paratrooper bag was one of my favorite purchases, and I still have it!
Very cool, Lou. Let us know if you come across any photos from your time at the store.
I had one of these bags through high school. I wish I knew what happened to it. I moved a lot between High School and graduating from college. I remember being the only kid in high school who had this bag, and it really got noticed. By the time my senior year rolled around there were a bunch more kids carrying this bag.
I had about 5 of these throughout the ’90s in L.A. Now I’m in Mill Valley (!), my 14-year-old just started high school, and just figured out she really must have an olive drab canvas satchel.
Do you still have any Israeli paratrooper bag for sale in Banana Republic? I have always wanted one to carry my court files & laptop.
Let me know. Thanks.
Just came across mine again this weekend. got new in 1987
Did BR sell them in black? I still use mine from high school in the 80’s, I carried books and homework I never did in it. The paratrooper symbol has ripped in half but the bag will outlast me. I thought these were also adverted in black but I haven’t seen them online, could be I’ve got it confused with other reproductions available.