User:Hlb2000/sandbox/Lony Gropper

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Work In Business
In the mid-nineteen sixties, while owning a leather garment manufacturer, Lony traveled to Paris (the largest annual leather exhibit at the time). There he realized that there are all kinds of colors that leather is available in. Lony thought why not make garments in colored leather. (Note for me: leather was black and brown prior to this trip). Everyone thought this should be a crazy idea and a real non-starter. Nonetheless, Lony decided to design Lady's sportswear in bright colors such as yellow, purple, green, orange. At the retail level, this was an immediate success. Within six months Lony was selling to every department store in Canada and the USA. This includes many big names such as Bloomingdale's, Saks, A&S, Nordstroms, as well as many others. Two years later, Lony was the first manufacturer to export high fashion to Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, Tokyo and many many more. It was quite a revolution in fashion, and then Lony proceeded to incorporate furs with fine suede and leathers, as well in colors.

Early Life
Lony was Born on June 23, 1931, in Botosani, Romania. He was the oldest of two siblings, his brother Aurel was born in 1928.

Lony left Romania in December 1947, on a ship originally routed for Israel (Palestine at the time). Since the British were still in charge they wouldn't let the ship anchor in Haifa, leading to the ship going to Naples in Italy.

He Married on August 24, 1958, to Ruth Kimmelman.