Dolce & Gabbana facts for kids

Dolce & Gabbana S.R.L.

Location on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Type	Società a responsabilità limitata
Industry	Fashion Design Beauty Real Estate
Founded	1985; 40 years ago (1985) Legnano, Italy
Founders	Domenico Dolce Stefano Gabbana
Headquarters	Milan, Italy
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Alfonso Dolce, CEO
Products	Fashion - RTW and accessories Watches and Jewelry Design Beauty - fragrance and make-up Food and Beverage
Revenue	€1.5 billion (2021)
Net income	€60.5 million
Number of employees	3150 (2021)

Dolce & Gabbana, also known as D&G, is a famous Italian fashion company. It was started in 1985 by two Italian designers, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, in Legnano, Italy. This company makes many luxury items. They are known for their ready-to-wear clothes, handbags, accessories, makeup, and perfumes.

History of Dolce & Gabbana

How it Started

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana first met in 1982. They were both working for another Italian fashion brand. In 1983, they decided to start their own design studio. They named it "Dolce & Gabbana."

Their first collection for women came out in 1985. It was shown at the New Talents section of Milan Fashion Week. The next year, they opened their first store in Milan.

For their 1986 Spring and Summer collection, they didn't have much money. Their friends helped by modeling and using their own accessories. They even used a bed sheet from Dolce's home as a stage curtain!

Their first self-made collection, "Donne Vere/Real Women," came out in March 1986. Sales were slow at first. Dolce's family helped them with money during a visit to Sicily. Soon, the company started to become more well-known.

In 1987, they showed their "Il Gattopardo/The Leopard line" collection. The next year, they began designing underwear and swimwear. By 1990, their products were sold in Japan and the United States. They also launched their first perfumes that year.

Growing in the 1990s

In 1990, Dolce & Gabbana opened their first women's store in Milan. They also showed their first men's collection. This collection featured simple clothes in dark colors.

Their designs often included crystals and other decorations. In 1991, their men's collection won an award for being very new and creative.

A famous moment happened in 1991. The singer Madonna wore a special corset and jacket by Dolce & Gabbana. This helped them become known around the world.

In 1994, they launched the D&G brand. This line was made for younger people. Their perfumes also won awards in 1993 and 1995. By the late 1990s, their sales were very high.

In 1996, Dolce & Gabbana tried something new. They streamed their fashion show on the internet. This was a very early step into using new technology for fashion. They also designed costumes for the movie Romeo + Juliet.

The 2000s and Beyond

In the 2000s, Dolce & Gabbana designed costumes for many music stars. These included Madonna, Missy Elliott, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston.

They also found inspiration in football (soccer). Their designs often influenced fashion and music trends. In 2006, they started making accessories and leather goods. In 2009, they launched their first makeup line. The actress Scarlett Johansson was the face of this new makeup.

In 2011, the D&G brand merged with the main Dolce&Gabbana line. This was done to make the main brand even stronger. Many people in fashion saw Dolce & Gabbana as defining the style of the 2000s.

They won "Men of the Year" from GQ Magazine in 2003. In 2004, readers of British Elle voted them the best international designers.

In 2019, Dolce & Gabbana started offering clothes in larger sizes. This was a step towards making luxury fashion more welcoming for all women.

In 2021, Dolce&Gabbana made history. They launched their first NFT (non-fungible token) collection. This was a big step into using new digital technology in fashion. They also worked with designer Harris Reed for the 2021 Met Gala.

In 2022, they teamed up with American celebrity Kim Kardashian. They created the "Ciao Kim" collection. This collection featured black, white, and silver clothes with special details.

Different Brands and Products

Dolce & Gabbana used to have two main lines: D&G and Dolce&Gabbana. In 2011, they combined them into one main brand, Dolce&Gabbana.

Dolce&Gabbana (main line)

This is the luxury fashion brand. It focuses on classic and formal items. These designs are meant to last and fit both long-term trends and seasonal changes. They also offer perfumes for men and women.

D&G (younger line)

D&G was a line for younger people. It had a more playful and expressive style. This line also offered watches. However, Dolce&Gabbana stopped the D&G line in 2011. They wanted to focus all their energy on their main luxury brand.

Other Product Lines

Dolce&Gabbana has created many different products over the years:

• Bridal collection: They had a wedding dress collection from 1992 to 1998.
• Underwear and Beachwear: They started making swimwear in 1989 and underwear in 2000.
• Eyewear and Timepieces: They launched glasses in 1998 and watches in 2000.
• Junior Collection: In 2001, they launched a line for children called D&G Junior.
• Accessories: They have made many accessories, including leopard print items and travel cases.
• Cosmetics: Their first makeup line came out in 2009.
• Jewelry: They launched a fine jewelry line in 2011, including rosaries and charm bracelets.
• Perfume: They have won many awards for their perfumes. Some popular scents include "The One" and "Light Blue."

Alta Moda

"Alta Moda" is Dolce&Gabbana's special high-fashion line. It started in 2012. These collections are like works of art, showing off amazing Italian craftsmanship. They are often presented in beautiful, historic Italian places.

The Alta Moda lines include:

• Alta Moda – For women's high fashion.
• Alta Sartoria – For men's high fashion.
• Alta Gioielleria – For high jewelry.
• Alta Orologeria – For high watches.

These shows are often held in famous places like Teatro alla Scala in Milan or Piazza San Marco in Venice. Each show is a tribute to Italian art and history.

Collaborations

Sports Teams

Dolce&Gabbana has worked with several sports teams. Since 2004, they have designed uniforms for the Italian football club AC Milan. They also created suits for the Italy national football team. In 2010, they partnered with Chelsea F.C. to design their uniforms.

Other Products

They have also teamed up with other companies:

• In 2006, they made a special Motorola V3i cell phone.
• In 2009, they worked with Sony Ericsson on a special gold cell phone.
• They even partnered with Citroën to design a version of their C3 Pluriel car.
• In 2010, they released a "gold edition" of Martini vermouth.
• They also worked with Madonna to create a line of sunglasses called MDG.

Kitchen and Food Items

Since 2016, Dolce & Gabbana has worked with Smeg. Together, they create kitchen appliances with beautiful Italian designs. These include refrigerators and small appliances with colorful pictures.

They also have a special coffee product with Bialetti. And they've teamed up with Italian food makers for Christmas pastries called panettone and special chocolates. They even helped create a new rose wine called Rosa.

Supporting New Designers

Dolce & Gabbana also helps new and talented fashion designers.

Miss Sohee

They worked with South Korean designer Sohee Park, known as Miss Sohee. Her designs are unique and detailed. This partnership showed how her style fit well with Dolce & Gabbana's own look.

Matty Bovan

British designer Matty Bovan got support from Dolce & Gabbana. They helped him financially and with their design team. This allowed him to show his unique knitwear and hand-painted fabrics at Milan Fashion Week.

Tomo Koizumi

They also collaborated with Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi. He is known for his bright and artistic designs. Koizumi used Dolce & Gabbana's famous "Carretto" print in his creations.

Advertising Campaigns

Dolce&Gabbana is known for its strong advertising. Their first perfume commercial starred actress Monica Bellucci. It showed women in Italy going about their daily lives.

In 2006, supermodel Gisele Bündchen starred in the commercial for their "The One" perfume. These campaigns often feature famous photographers and filmmakers. Dolce & Gabbana has won awards for their advertising.

Inspirations and Style

The style of Dolce & Gabbana is greatly influenced by Italian movies and Sicilian culture. They often use bright colors and animal prints. Domenico Dolce says they design clothes to tell a story, like making a movie.

They focus on making clothes that look good on people. They are famous for their corsets and pinstripe suits. Their designs are known for making the female body look amazing.

In 2016, they launched a special fashion line for Muslim women. It included hijabs and abayas with beautiful floral prints.

Books by Dolce & Gabbana

Besides designing clothes, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have written many books. These books often feature photographs of their work and fashion campaigns. The money from some of these books goes to charities.

Some of their books include:

• 10 Anni Dolce & Gabbana (about their first ten years)
• Hollywood (featuring movie stars)
• Calcio (about soccer players)
• 20 Years Dolce & Gabbana (a history of their collections)
• Family (focusing on family life)
• Dolce&Gabbana Alta Gioielleria: Masterpieces of High Jewellery (about their high jewelry)

Stores and Exhibitions

Dolce&Gabbana has many offices and stores around the world. They have big showrooms in Milan, Italy. They also bought and renovated a historic cinema in Milan called Il Metropol. This theater is now used for fashion shows and events.

In the United States, you can find their stores in cities like Beverly Hills and New York City. Their products are also sold in large department stores.

Dolce & Gabbana uses their spaces to host art and photography exhibitions. They have shown works by famous artists and photographers. They also hold book launches and exhibitions of their own clothing.

Caring for the Planet

Dolce & Gabbana is working to be more sustainable. In 2022, they announced they would stop using real animal fur in their products. Instead, they will use high-quality fake fur and recycled materials. They are working with animal welfare groups on this.

They also helped start the Re.Crea Competition in 2022. This competition aims to find new ways to manage textile waste. It encourages research into recycling in the fashion industry.

See also

In Spanish: Dolce & Gabbana para niños