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Domenico Dolce

"Many designers take themselves too seriously -- 'I am a genius, the essence of fashion.'"

Domenico Dolce, one half of the infamous label Dolce & Gabbana, was born in 1958 in Pollizzi Generosa, a small village near Sicily, Italy. Dolce grew up in his father’s clothing factory, where he learned to draw and sew. Later on, he enrolled in University to study science but soon became bored and transferred to art school in Sicily to study fashion design. Instead of returning to the family business after graduation, Dolce relocated to Milan, Italy to make it as a designer. In 1980 he began working at an atelier, where he met future partner Stefano Gabbana. Thanks to similar interests the men struck up a partnership and acted as consultants to factories and thread companies before freelance designing. After showing their designs anywhere they found the space, apartments and fast food restaurants the most popular, the duo’s work was finally recognized. In 1985, under the name Dolce & Gabbana, the men were invited to present at the ‘New Talent’s’ fashion show organized by the Milano Collezioni. Their internationally acclaimed debut lead them to taking over design duties for the Complice line along with starting work on their first self-produced collection. After showing their new collection, the Dolce & Gabbana label continued to succeed. The two men quickly started expanding their label and opening stores and boutiques. Dolce, along with Gabbana currently design menswear, womenswear, childrenswear underwear, scarves, lingerie, beachwear, ties, and accessories.

Life Facts:
Domenico Dolce is a customer of Dolce and Gabbana himself; he owns 10 black suits. During the 1980s Dolce was very active in AIDS education, awareness and fund raising initiatives.

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