Background and career
Stefano Gabbana (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsteːfano ɡabˈbaːna]; born 14 November 1962) is an Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur and the co-founder of the luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.
Stefano Gabbana was born in Milan on 14 November 1962 to a family from the Veneto region. His parents, Piera and Lino, respectively hailing from Ceggia and Cessalto, were hardworking laborers, often juggling two to three jobs. His interest in fashion began around age 15, in general for himself, particularly in designers like Fiorucci. Gabbana pursued graphic design, graduating from the Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche, in Rome.
Gabbana's fashion journey began in 1980 when he met the Sicilian designer, Domenico Dolce, while working for Giorgio Correggiari. Hired by Correggiari with an emphasis on sportswear, Gabbana honed his skills in sketching and tailoring, often seeking guidance from Dolce. Though Correggiari died in 2012, his impact on the young designers was profound. Gabbana, in a 2013 statement, acknowledged Correggiari's role in mentoring them, emphasizing the valuable lessons he imparted about pitfalls to avoid in the fashion industry. In 1983, Gabbana and Dolce decided to venture out on their own, and two years later, they established Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. (D&G). Within this partnership, Dolce handles most of the tailoring while Gabbana assists in fabric selection and the overall feel of the collection. Gabbana's main role comes during fittings where he judges the final look. Before their official runway debut, Gabbana and Dolce organized grassroots fashion shows in unconventional locations around Milan, including a small apartment and even a fast-food restaurant. Using friends as models and without professional PR support, these presentations helped create enough buzz to secure their spot at Milano Collezioni. The fashion brand made its debut on the runway in October 1985 at the Nuovi Talenti (New Talents) show during Milano Collezioni. In March 1986, D&G launched its first collection and presented its own show titled "Real Women." The first D&G store opened in Milan at 7 Via Santa Cecilia in 1987. In 1988, D&G formed a partnership with Dolce's father, Saverio, who owned the manufacturing company Dolce Saverio in Legnano, near Milan. D&G's repertoire expanded, unveiling lingerie and beachwear in 1989, followed by menswear in 1990. Their global presence solidified with fashion shows in Tokyo and New York in 1989 and 1990, respectively. In November 1990, D&G inaugurated its New York City showroom at 532 Broadway in SoHo, Manhattan. The brand released its first fragrance, Dolce & Gabbana Parfum, in October 1992. Dolce & Gabbana gained worldwide recognition in 1993 when Madonna selected them to design costumes for her Girlie Show World Tour. Subsequently, they went on to collaborate with notable personalities such as Monica Bellucci, Kylie Minogue, Angelina Jolie and Isabella Rossellini. By 1995, the brand secured an agreement to produce and distribute Marcolin's eyewear and sunglasses. The D&G product line expanded to include various accessories such as ties, belts, handbags, sunglasses, watches, and footwear. By 2003, the company had overtaken Armani, Gucci, Prada, and Versace in terms of product sales within Italy. In 2009, nearly a quarter-century after its establishment, D&G operated 113 stores and 21 factory outlets, employed a staff of 3,500 individuals, and achieved an annual turnover exceeding €1 billion. In 2023, the duo diversified into real estate, announcing residential projects in Miami, USA, and Marabella, Spain, and expressing ambitions to establish a hotel in the Maldives. In June of that year, Gabbana and Dolce announced they will collaborate with Havaianas to venture into making a sandal collection featuring signature prints like zebra, leopard, majolica-glazed pottery, and Sicilian cart patterns, crafted in a luxurious printed velvet finish. Gabbana announced his retirement as chair in April 2026, but stated that he would remain with the company in a creative role.
Gabbana and Dolce publicly disclosed their relationship in 1999. They resided in a villa in Milan and owned multiple properties on the French Riviera, as well as a villa in Portofino. While their romantic relationship ended in 2004, they maintain a professional collaboration at D&G. As of April 2024, Forbes estimates Stefano Gabbana's net worth to be around US$2.1 billion.
In 2013, both Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce were convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to a 20-month suspended sentence in prison. An Italian court found the pair guilty of failing to declare millions of euros of revenue earned through a D&G subsidiary company, Gado, based in Luxembourg. They denied the charges and appealed the case; in October 2014 they were both cleared of wrongdoing by the appellate court.
In March 2015, singer-songwriter Elton John called for a boycott of the D&G brand after Dolce referred to babies born through in vitro fertilization as "chemistry children and synthetic children" in an interview. This sparked a war of words, with Gabbana later calling John a "fascist" and calling for a counter-boycott. However, he later clarified that his views on IVF were separate from that of Dolce. When asked on CNN whether he supported IVF, he responded: "Yeah, I don't have anything bad (to say), because the beauty of the world is freedom" and "We love gay couple. We are gay. We love gay couple. We love gay adoption. We love everything. It's just an express of my private point of view."
