Domenico Dolce born 13 August 1958Domenico Dolce is an Italian fashion designer and half of the famous duo Dolce&Gabbana [Dolce pictured left].
Born in Polizzi Generosa a small village near Palermo, Sicily, Dolce studied fashion design in Sicily and worked in his family's small clothing factory.
Stefano Gabbana had no fashion education; he had studied graphic design. Dolce and Gabbana met in 1980 when they were working as assistants in an atelier in Milan. When they started business together in 1982, they continued to do freelance designing for others.
Their first collection in 1986 won international acclaim, and their first boutique opened in 1989 in Japan. In 1990 they presented their first men's collection and opened their first women's boutique in Milan. That same year, the duo began designing the Complice line for the Genny Group in Milan (Complice had been designed by Versace from 1975 to 1981, and then by Claude Montana until 1987.) Scarves, ties, beachwear, perfume, and accessories were added in 1992.
Dolce&Gabbana are on the same line of contemporary Italian couture houses as Armani, Gucci, Versace, Prada and Moschino. Sexy and glamorous, hugely popular with Hollywood and celebrities, Dolce&Gabbana have become one of the defining high-end fashion houses of recent years.Dolce and Gabbana announced on 20 February 2005 that they would split up after 19 years, having been one of the world's most high-profile gay couples. Stefano Gabbana said that, 'This is a love split, not a business split'. Moreover he said, 'Domenico and I are still very good friends and, as for the working relationship, we are still very much together. Business, in fact, has never been better.'