Domenico Dolce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Domenico Dolce
|
|
|---|---|
Dolce in 2016
|
|
| Born | 13 August 1958 Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, Italy
|
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Known for | Dolce & Gabbana |
| Partner(s) | Stefano Gabbana (1982–2003) |
Domenico Mario Assunto Dolce (born August 13, 1958) is a famous Italian fashion designer. He is one of the founders of the world-renowned luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, also known as D&G. Since starting the company in 1985, Dolce has become one of the most important and influential people in the fashion world.
Contents
Early Life and School
Domenico Dolce was born in a small town called Polizzi Generosa in Sicily, Italy. His father, Saverio, owned a tailor shop, and his mother, Rosaria, was skilled in business. Dolce became interested in fashion because his father often traveled to Milan. His dad would bring back fabrics and fashion magazines.
At first, Dolce studied architecture. However, he was more interested in fashion. With his father's support, he moved to Milan to study at the Instituto Marangoni, a famous fashion school. He left before graduating because he felt he was ready to start working in the industry. His dream was to work for the famous designer Armani.
Career with Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce started his career helping with his family's business. In 1980, he met Stefano Gabbana while they were both working for another designer. At first, they were rivals because Dolce worried Gabbana might copy his designs. But soon, they decided to work together.
In 1982, Dolce and Gabbana started their own fashion consulting studio. Just two years later, they created the company Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. (D&G).
Building the Brand
In their partnership, Dolce is the tailor. He is in charge of drawing the designs and creating the first versions of the clothes. He carefully checks every piece of clothing to make sure it is high quality. It was also Dolce's idea to hire photographer Ferdinando Scianna, which helped make D&G a well-known brand in Italy.
Before they became famous, Dolce and Gabbana held their own small fashion shows. They used unusual places like a small apartment or even a fast-food restaurant. Their friends acted as models. These shows created a lot of excitement and helped them get a spot at a major Milan fashion event.
D&G showed its first women's collection in Milan in 1985. The designs were inspired by Italian movie stars like Sophia Loren. In 1986, they had their own show called "Real Women." The first D&G store opened in Milan in 1987.
Becoming Famous Worldwide
D&G continued to grow quickly. They opened their first store in Tokyo, Japan, in 1989 and launched a men's collection in 1991. In 1990, they opened a showroom in New York City. They also released their first perfume in 1992.
In 1993, D&G became famous all over the world. Pop star Madonna asked them to design the costumes for her Girlie Show World Tour. After that, they designed clothes for many other celebrities, including Monica Bellucci, Kylie Minogue, and Angelina Jolie.
The company added more products like ties, handbags, sunglasses, and shoes. By 2003, D&G was more successful than other major Italian brands like Armani and Gucci in their home country. By 2009, the company had over 100 stores and employed 3,500 people.
Recent Projects
Starting in 2023, Dolce & Gabbana began working on real estate projects. They announced plans for luxury homes in Miami, USA, and Marbella, Spain. They are also planning a hotel in the Maldives.
In the same year, the brand worked with the sandal company Havaianas. They created a special collection of sandals with D&G's famous patterns, like leopard and zebra prints.
Personal Life
Dolce and Gabbana were partners in both business and life for many years. Their personal partnership ended in 2004, but they have remained close friends and continue to run Dolce & Gabbana together.
According to Forbes magazine, Domenico Dolce's net worth was about US$2.1 billion as of April 2024.
Charity Work
Dolce & Gabbana have been involved in many charity projects. In 2016, they supported an event to help children with serious illnesses. They created a special doll that was sold at an auction to raise money. They have also created mini versions of their clothes for a UNICEF charity project.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they started a project called #Fattoincasa ("Made at Home"). It was a series of online workshops to inspire families to be creative at home. The project also raised money for COVID-19 research. Dolce and Gabbana also gave their own money to support a study at Humanitas University to help fight the virus.
Later that year, they launched a campaign with their Devotion bag. Part of the money from sales went to help fund the development of a vaccine at Humanitas University.
Awards and Honours
Dolce and Gabbana have received many awards for their work in fashion.
- In 1991, they won the International Woolmark Prize.
- In 1993, their perfume was named the Best Fragrance of the Year.
- In 2009, the City of Milan gave them the Ambrogino Gold medal, a special award.
- In 2014, a charity called La Fondazione NY honored Dolce, Gabbana, and director Baz Luhrmann for their support of young artists.
See also
In Spanish: Domenico Dolce para niños
