Banana Republic has grown from a two-store wannabe safari outfitter to an retail empire in its own right, though no pith hats or fake palm trees can be seen now in its stores. Instead, the well-known retailer of men's and women's mid-scale (not high-dollar, but far from discount) work-to-play casual and tailored apparel has a sprawling territory some 620 stores in North American, Europe, and Asia, and a website, through which it distributes its well-put-together look. It's also expanding in Latin America and the Middle East via franchise agreements. A subsidiary of retail giant Gap Inc. since 1978, Banana Republic accounts for nearly 20% of its parent company's sales.