EXHIBIT 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Gymboree Corporation (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 1, 2003 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Form 10-Q"), I, Lisa
Harper, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, that to my knowledge:

     (1) The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d));
         and

     (2) The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Company.

             December 16, 2003                      By: /s/ Lisa Harper

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                   Date                                 Lisa Harper
                                           Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
                                                       of the Board