Blog

The “Save-The-Tiger” Belt

“For the cat person of conscience” comes the Save-The-Tiger belt. An essential accessory that pulls many a BR outfit together with a bit of an edge. I think it’s a beautiful belt that would be shocking were it to have an actual tiger tooth, certainly, but it feels like a missed opportunity not to donate to tiger conservation as part of the sale. 

From the catalog: “Only 200 Siberian tigers survive in the wild today, and a mere three or four of the Javan species. There are 2,000 Bengals (but many live in zoos). The proud tiger, alas, is severely endangered. So our belt closing looks like a tiger tooth but is really 100% ecologically sound ox horn. The elegant, smooth-finished belt is top-grain cowhide that tapers from 3 inches wide to 1 3/4 inches. For the cat-person of conscience.” 

 

Holiday 1986
Modeled on the Kenya Pioneer Skirt on spring 1987

About The Author

Robyn Adams
Robyn's fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying the clothing and giving her the catalogs. She loved the clothes and as an artist she was drawn to the illustrations. She went on to study illustration at art college in BR's hometown of San Francisco and worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA as a graphic designer and illustrator with Secret Fan Base . She's been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.

3 Comments

  • Stacie on January 4, 2012

    I have this very same belt, and I’d been wondering how old it was. I stumbled across your blog while researching a completely different item and I was just thinking I’d search it for belt posts when I saw this, hah! Thanks!

    • Robyn on January 4, 2012

      Ha, that is cool. Nice store!

  • Brooke on March 23, 2023

    My godmother worked in the fashion industry buying / In management roles for department stores from the 60s til the 90s. After she died I discovered this belt among her fashion artifacts! Thanks for this awesome resource- it was fun learning about the history. I was a teen in the 80s and remember pouring through the catalog and shopping at the BR store in Houstons Galleria when it seemed like a boutique from Out of Africa. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Leave a Reply