Entrepreneur Sergio Girombelli passed away in his native Ancona, in the central Marche region of Italy, at the age of 81.
In the 1980s, he was instrumental in the development of the Byblos and Genny brands’ success. Along with his sister-in-law Donatella, he brought in Keith Varty and Alan Cleaver, who had just graduated from London’s Royal College of Art, to help transform Byblos into a globally recognized fashion brand.
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In 1973, Girombelli and his brother Arnaldo founded Byblos. The young Gianni Versace, who later led the Girombelli group-controlled Genny and Complice labels, was the one who followed Varty and Cleaver.
Due to disagreements with Donatella Girombelli, Sergio Girombelli left the Genny group in 1992. The following year, Varty and Cleaver left the company, and Richard Tyler and Rebecca Moses took their place.
But Varty and Cleaver’s relationship with the Girombellis did not end. Sergio Girombelli spoke warmly of Varty upon his passing in 2012 and cherished his recollections of the designer’s ability to fuse his “English style with the Made in Italy tradition, interpreting fashion in a young and colorful way.” He listed “the washed silk suits” and “lace collections mixed with fun details, like ruches,” as two of the Byblos hits.
The Prada Group acquired a majority interest in Genny and Byblos in 2001. At the time, the company was home to Jil Sander, Fendi, and Helmut Lang among its brands.
The legacy left behind by Sergio Girombelli will undoubtedly endure as testament to his extraordinary contributions to both the Italian and global fashion landscapes. His indomitable spirit and visionary approach will be sorely missed but forever celebrated.