An insider's guide to your favourite fashion brands
Who started it?
Domenico Dolce was born in Palermo in 1958. He studied fashion and learnt the trade at his parents' clothing factory.
Stefano Gabbana pursued a different career path. Born in Milan in 1962, he studied graphic design. He then worked for various advertising agencies before moving to atelier in 1980, when he met Dolce. In October 1985 they released their first women's collection under the Dolce & Gabbana label. Their earliest designs were practically home-made, comprising unstructured clothing with complicated fastening systems.
In 1987, they showed a collection inspired by 1940s and 50s Italian cinema, a theme that would dominate their collections. The clothes were romantic, with voluptuous silhouettes, including full skirts, ruffled blouses, little black dresses and religious motifs such as rosary beads.
Dolce & Gabbana has been described as sexy and sensual. They're known for designing clothes for so-called real women with curves.