--Designer: Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana born in
1958 and
1962. Domenico Dolce (Sicily)Stefano Gabbana (Venice)
--The Italian designers came together in
1982 and were fobbed off early on as 'too young' of all things.
--In
1982, the first D&G studio was opened, but it wasn't until
1985 until people took notice of the fashion house.
--At the Milano Collezioni fashion show in October of that year, Dolce and Gabbana were recognised as a promising new talent.
--A year later,
1986 the pair launched their first self-produced collection - real woman.
--In October of
1988, Dolce & Gabbana signed an agreement with Dolce Saverio, a clothing company owned by Domenico Dolce's family. This kick started the labels ready-to-wear range
--The late
80s saw D&G clothes travel to Japan, where they showcased the label in Tokyo for the first time. Then came New York and the flood-gates to prosperity were opened.
--They opened a new showroom in New York (532 Broadway) and signed an agreement with the Genny group to produce the Complice range for four years.
--In
1993, Dolce & Gabbana designed 1500 costumes for Madonna's world tour of 'The Girlie Show', which brought them even more recognition than they expected.
--In the same year,
1993, "Dolce & Gabbana Parfum" fragrance was awarded the international prize as the best feminine fragrance of the year, by the Perfume Academy.
--In
1996, for the first time in history, the French award - "Oscar des Parfums" - is given to an Italian fragrance: Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme.
--By
1998 the label was spinning serious money.
--In May of that year launched the new D&G Eyewear collection.
--A year later,
1999, the D&G Company came full circle, and eventually bought out its parent company by taking over 51 per cent of Dolce Saverio S.p.A., which would be renamed Dolce & Gabbana Industria S.p.A.
--The company exclusively designed clothes and accessories for Whitney Houston's World Tour in
1999.
--D&G Time, producing designer watches, was launched in early
2000.
--For Madonna's "Music" album, Dolce and Gabbana were asked to go one step further than just dressing her and her ensemble and were asked to create an entire environment. It may sound daunting, but the Italian lads were up to the task and so transformed New York's legendary Roseland Ballroom and London's Brixton Academy into what will be forever known as cyber-ranches.
--By
2005 their turnover was €750 million.
Domenico Dolce grew up in Sicily while Stefano Gabbana grew up in Milan. Although they come from different parts of Italy, they both claim their principal influence is the Mediterranean. Their creative collection combines the inspirations from their own heritages, the mythology of old Italy, as well as the drama of cinema in Italy. Therefore, the styles they produce are a traditional ones mainly. Sometimes, it is shown in the mystical sensuality of a masked model who seems like Venus from the rustic Sicilian countryside. Basically, the elements of fantasy, magic, and sex dominate their ideas.
Where is Sicily?
Throughout much of its history, Sicily has been considered a crucial strategic location due in large part to its importance for Mediterranean trade routes.
The area was highly regarded as part of Magna Graecia, with Cicero describing Siracusa as the greatest and most beautiful city of all Ancient Greece.
For the impression of Sicilian culture , we can find that some collections contain the elements of Sicily. For example the colourful design and the cutting. And also Stefano Gabbana grew up in Milan. So the collections are full of characteristic feeling but also masterful and popularized design.
