Review: Banana Republic Factory Favorites, Including the Popular Travel Jeans

As an editor for Shock Naue, specializing in bringing authoritative and insightful content to our English-speaking audience, we delve into the world of fashion to uncover value and style. Today, we examine selections from Banana Republic Factory, often viewed with skepticism compared to their mainline counterparts. Our focus is on assessing these pieces on their own merit – comfort, fit, value, and overall worthiness for your wardrobe. We’ll pay particular attention to the highly sought-after Banana Republic Factory Travel Jeans, analyzing how they stack up.

The perception of “factory” stores can be mixed. While they might not always replicate the exact quality of mainline products, dismissing them entirely might mean overlooking affordable, well-fitting options. Is the sometimes dismissive attitude warranted? We conducted a detailed review to find out, starting from scratch with Banana Republic Factory pieces.

Ryan N. is 5’9″, 160 lbs, and wears a size 31×30 in the pants/jeans reviewed. Tops are sized as noted.

Slim Fit Travel Pants

These pants feature a fabric difficult to categorize – perhaps a “performance twill,” though predominantly cotton (99% cotton, 1% lycra). It possesses a unique smoothness, neither shiny nor conventionally matte. The “honey comb” color tested is certainly distinctive. The overall feel was positive, and the fit quite accurate. A notable detail is the low-contrast stitching, a hallmark of good design that prevents the pants from looking overly casual despite their five-pocket layout. This subtle detail helps them pair seamlessly with a dress shirt and sweater for a more formal look, while also serving weekend duty with a simple tee. They offer significant versatility, echoing the popularity of the mainline version at a lower price point. Available in five colors.

Tailored-Fit Core Temp Blazer

The tailored-fit Core Temp Blazer presents a mixed picture. From the front, this slim-cut, slightly-stretchy jacket appears to be an ideal, affordable sportcoat. It can function independently or combine with the Core Temp Chinos to form a pseudo-suit. It offers comfort, albeit with a touch of stiffness. However, a significant issue arises with the peculiar single vent at the back, which creates an undesirable “duck butt” effect. Despite attempting to style it, the vent struggles to lay flat. This seems to stem from the vent not being cut sufficiently long, preventing the fabric from draping correctly. Furthermore, the unusual sewing technique might complicate tailoring efforts. While the potential for a great blazer is there, this vent issue is a notable drawback. If the vent happens to lay correctly on your body shape, it’s a win; otherwise, it’s a significant fault.

Core Temp Chinos

Much has been said about the Banana Republic Factory Core Temp Chino. In this review, the fabric did not appear as shiny as some previous assessments might suggest, potentially indicating a recent tweak in material composition. They offer a nice taper without feeling restrictive and provide excellent stretch and mobility. They transition easily between dressed-up and casual looks and are convenient for care, being machine washable and tumble dryable. These chinos effectively blend comfort, simple aesthetics, and relative affordability. They are lightweight, flexible, breathable, smooth, and exceptionally comfortable. Six colors are available, including the Midnight Navy tested.
banana republic slim fit traveler

Vegan Suede Bomber Jacket

Comparing this to a mainline BR vegan suede jacket from 2019, the Factory version performs remarkably well for its price point, which is nearly half that of the mainline. The faux-suede material looks impressive, though perhaps slightly less supple than the mainline version. It boasts rich color depth, like the excellent, versatile lighter “sand” brown (note: this color may be sold out, with Charcoal still available). The primary difference lies in the material composition: the mainline version is 92% poly/8% spandex with a cotton lining, while the Factory version is 100% polyester throughout. This results in a lighter weight, which could be a pro or con depending on preference. However, the lack of stretch in the Factory version impacts mobility, feeling restrictive across the chest and upper arms during certain movements, an issue absent in the stretchier BR jacket. While it delivers considerable value for the cost, incorporating even a small percentage of stretch would significantly enhance its wearability.

Slim-Fit Clean Rinse Travel Jeans

One of Banana Republic’s most popular items, the Travel Jean, makes its way to the Factory outlet. Not having owned the mainline version, I approached these without direct comparison but was thoroughly impressed. The “clean rinse” shade is, in my opinion, perfect, complemented by color-matched “shadow stitching” that lends them enough formality that they were initially mistaken for dress pants. The fabric composition (56% cotton, 25% rayon, 17% polyester, 2% stretch) differs slightly from the mainline (44% cotton, 42% TENCEL™ modal, 13% polyester, 1% stretch), but they likely offer a very similar feel. Thanks to the synthetic content, they resist wrinkling and feel more like pulling on a suit pant than a traditional jean. These Banana Republic Factory Travel Jeans are quickly becoming a new favorite due to their comfort, appearance, and practicality.

Banana Republic Factory Slim-Fit Clean Rinse Travel Jeans

Luxe Touch Performance Crew Neck Tee

Differing from a typical classic cotton tee, the “performance” fabric described as 100% cotton “interlock” is exceptionally soft, firm, and absorbent. A “Mercerization treatment” gives it a silky, polished look and feel, improving strength and reducing shrinkage. The smooth, stretchy, slightly shiny texture felt surprisingly synthetic, making the revelation of it being 100% cotton remarkable. This fabric truly performs. Available in seven colors. Regarding fit, the XS offered a very trim fit with fitted arms, while the S provided more room. Those preferring a tighter fit might consider sizing down, while those who like a looser fit should opt for their normal size.

Banana Republic Factory Luxe Touch Performance Crew Neck Tee

Slim-Fit Wrinkle-Resistant Dress Shirt

The fabric quality of these wrinkle-resistant dress shirts is excellent. However, the fit presents challenges. Testing both size XS and S revealed distinct pros and cons. The XS fit well across the neck, shoulders, arms, and upper chest but tapered too aggressively at the waist, feeling restrictive. Conversely, the size S fit comfortably around the waist and lower torso but was problematic elsewhere, particularly the neck. The collar gap on the size S when fully buttoned was excessively large, measuring 16.25 inches from button to buttonhole, a measurement typically associated with a size L collar, compared to 15.25 inches on the XS. This significant discrepancy indicates potential sizing issues. Given this, sizing down or skipping these shirts entirely might be advisable, despite the otherwise nice fabric and concept.

Banana Republic Factory Slim-Fit Wrinkle-Resistant Dress Shirt

Everyday Crew Neck Sweater

The Everyday Sweater is a dependable basic, offering easy wearability and comfort. Similar to other items reviewed, the sizing felt somewhat in-between. The XS was slightly too tight for comfortable layering, while the S had excess room. This suggests potential inconsistencies in BR Factory’s sizing, echoing issues sometimes found in other mass-market brands. The sweater is made from a blend of 60% cotton and 40% REPREVE polyester, sourced from recycled plastic bottles. It’s another staple available in numerous color options.
banana republic slim fit traveler

Banana Republic Factory Everyday Crew Neck Sweater

Slim-Fit Knit Pique Untucked Shirt

This knit pique shirt appears poised to be a popular style, combining elements of a dress shirt and a polo. It features a full buttoned placket, unlike a standard polo, merging the structure of a dress shirt with the casual comfort of pique knit fabric. This hybrid design allows it to be dressed up (potentially even with a suit for a casual event like a beach wedding) or down for casual outings. A button-down collar helps maintain shape and prevents “collar flop.” The fabric (52% cotton, 48% poly) is smooth, drapes well, and flatters the body. When considering a purchase, ordering your usual size and one size down to compare fits is recommended, as personal preference for how the arms hit and overall fit can vary.

Slim-Fit Knit Pique Untucked Shirt

BEST IN SHOW: Honeycomb-Knit Shawl Collar Cardigan

This honeycomb-knit shawl collar cardigan stands out as a truly impressive piece. It feels substantial, solid, and well-constructed from 100% cotton. Wearing it is akin to being wrapped in a quality blanket. It excels in achieving a good fit in the body with non-flumpy arms and boasts a robust collar. The sturdiness of the collar is attributed to a clever design detail: the weave changes direction at the stress point behind the neck. Unlike many shawl collars that continue a lengthwise stitch around the entire collar (leading to eventual sagging), BR Factory utilizes a stronger vertical weave at this critical point, resulting in a collar capable of standing up on its own. This piece raises the question: what justifies the significant price difference from its seemingly near-identical mainline Banana Republic counterpart? Both are 100% cotton with the same weave, pockets, and strong collar construction. The quality here is remarkable for the price point. (As a side note, earthy tones like brown, tan, and deep yellow seemed prominent and promising in this collection).

Banana Republic Factory Honeycomb Sweater

In conclusion, the Banana Republic Factory lineup offers a mix of hits and misses. While some items, like the blazer and dress shirt, presented notable fit or design flaws, others, such as the banana republic factory travel jeans, the Core Temp Chinos, and especially the Honeycomb-Knit Shawl Collar Cardigan, demonstrated surprising quality and value that significantly outweigh their factory price point. It’s clear that careful selection can yield excellent additions to your wardrobe from this source.

About the Author: Ryan N. is a professional web developer for (and alum from) the University of Delaware, who keeps a close shave as to not be confused with his strongly-bearded twin brother. He plays guitar and drums, loves going to concerts again with his wife, and loves being a dad.