Genny

The Genny group, based in Ancona on the Adriatic sea, produces and distributes the following lines: Genny, Complice, Byblos Donna, and Byblos Uomo for a total of almost two million garments a year and gross billings of 300 billion lire. In addition, the Genny and Byblos names have been licensed to a number of accessories including handbags, shoes, eyeglasses and perfumes. Over the years the Genny Group has achieved a number of goals that have reinforced the company's image not only in Europe but in the United States and Japan as well.


In October of 1977 the Genny ready-to-wear line for women held its first fashion show in the legendary "Sala Bianca" of Palazzo Pitti in Florence, launching the group on an international level.


In February of 1984 Genny passed another milestone by putting on a fashion show at the White House on the invitation of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan and the Princess Grace Foundation. This was the first time any Italian fashion house received such an honor.


In April, 1995, for the first time ever a fashion designer was invited to put on a show at the United Nations, and the honor went to Genny.


Born in Mondolfo (Pesaro) on February 17, 1994, Donatella Girombelli went to work as a young woman as an assistant designer for the Genny group. After a few years she married one of the owners, Arnaldo, and the couple had a son, Leonardo. It was no surprise that the energetic, intelligent woman with creamy skin and red hair caught his eye. After his untimely death in the early 1980s she took over the company and has been running it ever since. She has developed a distinctive look for each line, Genny being well known for careful tailoring of clothes mostly meant for career women and careful details including embroidery for an ultra-feminine look for evening.


Being involved in community activities is not that common for Italian career women but Girombelli has always made time for such work and as a result has received a number of honors. The Italian government has also recognized her work as an industrialist, nominating her commendatore of the Italian Republic. She was also awarded a gold medal by the Mayor of Ancona, and given an honorary degree by the University of Urbino in recognition of her work with young people and helping to create jobs for them.


At the moment the Genny collection is being designed by the U.S. stylist Rebecca Moses. The target client is a woman like Girombelli, who wants to be comfortable and look elegant on the job and feminine in the evening. The woman who keeps the books "Women Who Run With Wolves" and "The Little Prince" on her bedside table is demanding of her co-workers, but at the same time wishes she had had more children. She consideres her outstanding character traits courage, determination, and impatience. She considers her biggest defect to be her stubbornness. Some of her choices give an insight into the character of this chic woman who runs a clothing empire: favorite music - Mozart, Eric Satie, Vangelis, myths: Freida Kahlo and Coco Chanel, favorite movies: Orlando, An enchanted April, Out of Africa, and the talent she wishes she was born with - to be able to act.