Tween Girls Win Banana Republic® “Fashion World Day” with Project Runway® Judge, August 14, 2009

Everyday girls have their #1 dream come true; learning first-hand what it takes to succeed as a top global fashion designer.

NEW YORK & OLD GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Banana Republic® and Miss O & Friends®. Seven girls, ages 8-15 from the Maryland, DC and NJ areas will have their #1 dream come true, learning what it’s takes to be a top global designer from the head designers at Banana Republic – the company that sets the pace for how the world dresses. The winners of the Miss O & Friends fashion contest will travel to Banana Republic’s headquarters in Manhattan to learn from Creative Director/EVP, Simon Kneen, and VP, Women’s Design, Alessandra Brunialti, also a Project Runway® (guest) judge.

“These girls will learn what it’s like to be a designer in the global fashion world, versus what they might perceive it to be,” said Alessandra Brunialti, VP Women’s Design, Banana Republic. “Girls will go through the process how a collection is created, from concept to execution, then “set up” the Summer 2010 collection in a store, along with how it is merchandised.”

Juliette Brindak (20), cofounder Miss O & Friends said, “We surveyed 2,000 Tween girls who told us their #1 dream is to be a fashion designer.” Paul Brindak, Miss O & Friends CEO, said, “Helping girls realize their dreams in a healthy, cool way, helps build self-esteem. Offering girls this opportunity in women’s fashion, at a top retailer, is an amazing opportunity that could not be purchased anywhere.”

About Miss O & Friends® By Girls…For Girls

Cool and age appropriate, the company fills the void for Tween girls who have outgrown Barbie® and are not ready for Britney. As one of the top, global, “Girls Only” lifestyle and socialization brands, (per Amazon’s Alexa data), Miss O & Friends® is managed by girls for girls, ages 8-14+, reflecting what girls want, helping girls realize their dreams, while building self-esteem. The authenticity created by Miss O’s real girls and the Miss O & Friends Tween girl community, yield billions of hits, exceeding many other popular websites.

The company’s largest investor is the Procter and Gamble Company’s PGP unit and features an impressive team, including Maxine Clark, Founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Leonard Lodish, Vice Dean, Wharton School and Gokul Rajaram, founder of Google’s “AdSense.”

About Banana Republic®

Banana Republic is a global accessible luxury brand that delivers the best in city style. Characterized by elevated design and luxurious fabrications, the Banana Republic lifestyle collections include apparel, handbags, jewelry, fragrance, and eyewear. Banana Republic, a division of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), can be found at over 500 retail locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, on BananaRepublic.com and (888) BR-STYLE. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.

Contacts

Miss O & Friends
Paul Brindak, 203-698-1804
917-710-5820 (c)
pbrindak@missoandfriends.com