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Domenico Dolce
Domenico Dolce.jpg
Dolce in 2016
Born (1958-08-13) 13 August 1958 (age 66)
Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, Italy
Occupation Fashion designer
Known for Dolce & Gabbana
Partner(s) Stefano Gabbana (1982–2003)

Domenico Mario Assunto Dolce (Italian: [doˈmeːniko ˈdoltʃe]; born 13 August 1958) is an Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur. Along with Stefano Gabbana, he is one half of the luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana (D&G). Since founding D&G in 1985, Dolce has become one of the world's most influential fashion designers and an industry icon.

Early life and education

Dolce was born in Polizzi Generosa, Sicily, in 1958. His father was a tailor and his mother sold fabrics and apparel. He moved to Milan to attend the fashion design school Istituto Marangoni, but he dropped out before graduating, confident he knew enough to work in the industry. His dream was to work for Armani.

Career

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Dolce & Gabbana store in Kobe, Japan

In 1980, Dolce met Stefano Gabbana through Dolce's employer, designer Giorgio Correggiari. In 1983, Gabbana and Dolce left Correggiari to work on their own; two years later, they launched Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. (D&G).

In October 1985, the Dolce & Gabbana brand made its fashion show debut at Milano Collezioni's Nuovi Talenti (New Talents). In March 1986, D&G released its first collection and held its own show, "Real Women." In 1987, the first D&G store opened in Milan, at 7 Via Santa Cecilia. In 1988, D&G established a partnership with Dolce's father, Saverio, who owned the manufacturing company Dolce Saverio in Legnano, near Milan.

D&G continued to expand, holding its first fashion shows in Tokyo (April 1989) and New York (April 1990), and releasing new collection lines, including its first lingerie and beachwear line in July 1989, and its first menswear line in January 1990. In November 1990, D&G opened its New York City showroom at 532 Broadway in SoHo, Manhattan. D&G released its first fragrance, Dolce & Gabbana Parfum, in October 1992.

In 1993, the Italian designers received worldwide fame when Madonna chose D&G to design the costumes for her Girlie Show World Tour. They have since gone on to design for Monica Bellucci, Kylie Minogue, Angelina Jolie and Isabella Rossellini.

Later additions to the D&G line included ties, belts, handbags, sunglasses, watches and footwear. By 2003, the company overcame Armani, Gucci, Prada, and Versace in Italy domestic market. In 2009, nearly 25 years after D&G opened, the company had 113 stores and 21 factory outlets, a staff of 3,500 people and an annual turnover of more than €1 billion.

Personal life

Dolce and Gabbana were an open couple for many years. The couple made its coming out in 1999. Following their success, they lived in a 19th-century villa in Milan, and owned several properties on the French Riviera. They also own a villa in Portofino. They ended their long-time relationship in 2003, but the pair still work together at D&G.

As of October 2015, Dolce was the 27th richest person in Italy with a net worth of approximately US$1.74 billion, according to Forbes.

Honours

Gabbana and Dolce have received numerous honours for their fashion and cultural contributions. Their first fashion award, the International Woolmark Prize, came in 1991. In 1993, their Dolce & Gabbana Parfum was named the Best Fragrance of the Year.

In 2009, the City of Milan awarded them the Ambrogino Gold medal; in 2014, they announced intentions to return it after a city council member called them tax evaders. In 2014, the La Fondazione NY, a charity aimed at supporting young Italian and American artists, honoured Gabbana, Dolce and film director Baz Luhrmann at its third awards gala at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. "We live with movies – our inspiration all the time is movies and we make our collection like a movie," Gabbana said during the event.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Domenico Dolce para niños

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