Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana - Dolce & Stefano Gabbana Biography, Fashion Designer Dolce & Gabbana Profile & Collection

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

Domenico Dolce
Birth: September 13, 1958
Place of birth: Palermo, Sicily.
Couture line: Dolce & Gabbana

Stefano Gabbana
Birth: November 14, 1962
Place of birth: Venice, Italy.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana had cohesively formed their company "Dolce & Gabbana" which has gained a reputed name in the fashion fraternity globally. The brand is associated with exquisite designs which make a mark in the world of fashion. With their artistically carved designs and a keen eye to perfection, the brand has made a buzzword in the industry. The brand savours to the need of high profile people and has its exclusive stores as well as retails from the premier designer stores of the world.

Early life
Domenico Dolce was born on September 13, 1958 in a small village near Palermo, Sicily. He studied fashion designing in Sicily and joined his family business, whilst Stefano Gabbana was born on November 14, 1962 in Venice, Italy. He had done a course in graphic designing. The pair first met in Milan in 1980, while working as assistants in a studio. They started business together in 1982, and continued to do freelance designing for others. It was in 1985 when they had put their name together and participated in a fashion show "New Talents" organized by the Milano Collezioni. It was a year later that the brand launched its first independent women ready-to-wear show that won international accreditation for their creativity. In 1989 the duo opened their first boutique in Tokyo, Japan with successive boutiques at Milan and Hong Kong.

Promotions and success
After gaining an international acclaim in 1986 the brand since then has no looking back. The brand expanded to other luxury sectors as well winning numerous awards in each of them. Some of the awards won by them are:

The Woolmark Award for the most innovative Men's collection in the year 1991.

"Dolce & Gabbana Parfum" awarded the international prize of the Perfume Academy as the best feminine fragrance of the year in 1993

"Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme" awarded the international prize of the Perfume Academy for the best masculine fragrance, best packaging and best communication of the year in 1995

In 1996 it won "Oscar des Parfums" Award which was the first time a Frnch Award was given to an Italian fragrancefor its "Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme".

In 1996 and 1997, they were the recipients of the "Designer of the Year" award voted by the readers of the British magazine FHM.

In 1997, Dolce & Gabbana was awarded the footwear designer of the year by the American magazine "Footwear News".

In 1999 they were the recipients of the "Style Award" assigned by Russian Harper's Bazaar.

In 2001 they received the "T de Telva" award for best international designers; assigned by the Spanish magazine Telva.

In 2003, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were honored in New York as Best Designer of the Year at the prestigious GQ Men of the Year Awards for outstanding achievement in men's fashion design. In the same year they were honored in New York at the Fashion Group International's 20th Annual Night of Stars for outstanding achievement in Italian design

In 2004 they were voted as the "Best International Designers" by the readers of British Elle vote for Elle Style Awards.

In 2004 they were recipients of the German 'Leadaward 2004', the most important advertising prize in German speaking countries, assigned for the Fall/Winter 2003/04 advertising campaign. In the same year they received first prize as the best website in eyewear category at Annual Interactive Key award in Milan.

In 2004, at the Università Bocconi in Milan, Dolce & Gabbana received the "Premio Risultati 2004" award for the company's financial performance and best financial statements during the four-year period of 1999-2002, and for its strategic positioning and development prospects.

In 2005, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are presented the 'GQ Men of the Year Award' for best international designers by Russian GQ.

In 2006, Dolce & Gabbana were presented in Hamburg the Leadaward 2006, considered one of the most prestigious German awards for the Best Advertising Campaign of the Year ("Swinging London," women's campaign Fall / Winter 2005/06).

Brand and clientele
Dolce & Gabbana has two central lines: Dolce&Gabbana and D&G whose modus-operandi are different from each other. While the former has an exquisite range of luxury items which are more formal and timeless the latter has a flamboyant look and is more casual. The brand also has a separate D&G Junior line which caters to the children wear. The brand has expanded its reach to beachwear, underwear, corrective eyewear, sunglasses, fragrance, bags and many more and has stores all over the world with its headquarters in Milan, Italy. The company has just published a book called "10 Years of Dolce & Gabbana", illustrating the history of the designer duo through pictures of top fashion photographers. The duo also recently recorded a CD with dance floor music under the D&G label. This Italian pair also has a glitzy-ritzy restaurant to boast about which its interiors made out of gold (not real gold obviously). This Italian brand has a client list which comprises of big names such as Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Ayumi Hamasaki, Christina Aguilera, Isabella Rossellini and Kylie Minogue amongst others.