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 October 30, 2004 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 8, 2004                               By: /s/ Lisa Harper
- ----------------                     -------------------------------------------
     Date                                          Lisa Harper
                                     Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
                                                      Board