Salt Grass Jewelry Is a Natural Fit for Banana Republic

By Amy Elliott | March 12, 2026

As traditional retail formats navigate a period of transition, it may come as a surprise that Banana Republic is investing in artisan-made jewelry. Just this month, the fashion retailer added a curated selection of pieces by Kristi Frank Montaño, founder of Santa Fe, N.M.-based Salt Grass Jewelry, to its website.

Santa Fe was Banana Republic’s destination for shooting its March 2026 campaign. “It’s a region rich with local craft and design, so we knew we’d have an amazing time finding someone whose talent would be a good match,” Jemma Cassidy, chief product officer at Banana Republic, tells JCK. “We wanted to find a way to continue our ongoing work with independent artisans and designers in a way that feels intentional.”

Inspired by the shapes and textures of the Southwest, Montaño’s jewelry is highlighted throughout the campaign, which captures the refined desert palette and “ghost ranch at golden hour” vibe of Banana Republic’s latest collection. The story unfolds against a backdrop of mountains and sun-parched grasslands, and within the relaxed interiors of a terra cotta bungalow.

Sage Earrings by Salt Grass, $175; Banana Republic — *Sage earrings by Salt Grass, $175; Banana Republic*

Montaño, a 14th-generation New Mexican, is deeply rooted in the area’s distinctive land features and craft traditions. “My work reflects the landscapes and cultural history that shape that identity,” she says.

Pieces from her collection, priced from $145 to $245, are available at Banana Republic stores in New York City (SoHo), L.A. (Century City), and Scottsdale, Ariz., as well as on the retailer’s website.

Rising Ring by Salt Grass Jewelry, $155 — *Rising eing by Salt Grass, $155; Banana Republic*

Now a highly regarded metal artist, Montaño trained at IGWT, Pamela Love, Adel Chefridi, and Fay Andrada before returning to Santa Fe—where she was born and raised—in 2020 to launch Salt Grass Jewelry. Since then, the designer has refined her hand-sculpted wax techniques to create “wearable totems that hold memory and place” and has become known for her intuitive connection to gems, minerals, and the natural world.

Montaño’s profile continues to rise: She recently collaborated with Santa Fe’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum on a jewelry collection inspired by the famed artist’s watercolors.

The Banana Republic partnership will further brighten the spotlight on Montaño’s talents and values. It also offers an exciting chance to scale her designs to “a larger fashion ecosystem,” she says. “I think we’re both storytellers, working in different but complementary mediums, and that shared sensibility is what makes this partnership feel so aligned.”

Ola stud earrings by Salt Grass, $148; Banana Republic — *Ola earrings by Salt Grass, $148; Banana Republic*

I have to agree. Frankly, it’s nice just to be reminded of Banana Republic’s existence. Maybe I’d neglected them because of the algorithm controlling the content I see, or the fact that I am no longer 27 years old and free to while away a Saturday afternoon shopping the boutiques on lower Fifth Avenue. But thanks to what my algorithm is currently serving up—i.e., Love Story which is reviving my memories of CBK’s buttery blonde hair that I spent most of my 20s and 30s aspiring to—this wave of ’90s nostalgia I have been feeling makes telling this brand story especially relevant to the moment.

Like so many things in the jewelry industry—and the culture—it’s refreshing to see how the mall brand that defined the workwear wardrobe of my youth has evolved into something a little more imaginative and lifestyle-driven (for instance, this is super fun).

In its new era, Banana Republic has adopted a “storytelling” aesthetic that is “central to our DNA,” says Cassidy, adding that Salt Grass “is a perfect example of what we look for in partners—the intersection of an exceptionally talented maker with a story to share.”

Rising necklace by Salt Grass, $155; Banana Republic — *Rising necklace by Salt Grass, $210; Banana Republic*

As for Montaño’s perspective, she notes that “the landscapes, the materials, the cultural memory—these aren’t just niche references, they’re ultimately human ones.

“People may not know the specific history behind a piece, but they feel the weight and intention of it,” says Montaño. “That’s what handmade work carries, and I think that’s what resonates across a wide range of customers.”

Top: Metal artist Kristi Frank Montaño in her Santa Fe studio

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