FASHION • Style ICON tant for the fashion market in the Uae? fashion during the day and also the evening. tributed to the charm of this magnificent SG: “We are really happy that this new Fashion makes women dream – this is the island that maintains its DNA despite the boutique will implement our presence in service that fashion provides. It is some- passing of time. We consider our collections Sicily is in our DNA Dubai. Our clients in the region love to shop thing wishful that communicates beauty.” as a continuous evolution, a laboratory of in their usual malls, so it was important ideas without forgetting our roots.” eXclUSiVe for us to have a presence at the Mall of the Q: Your high couture credo is summed Emirates.” up in the 3S motto that you espouse: Q: lots of celebrities, from beyoncé to dd: “The local market is a differentiated “Sicilian, Sartorial, Sensual.” is that the Monica bellucci to Madonna love your Mariella radaelli talks design and inspiration when she meets and certainly a dynamic market of great secret of your success? brand. but how do you manage to fasci- doMenico dolce and Stefano Gabbana at their office in milan importance both for us and the entire fash- dd: “The three ‘S’ motto is a summary of nate the average shopper? ion industry.” what we are and what we feel. Sicily is in dd: “We always liked the idea of dressing our DNA and represents all the heart and women from all over the world but main- Q: Your fall 2016 collection is a com- passion we put in everything we do, espe- tain our ideal woman and man when we To enter into the sensuous curves of a Dolce & Gabbana The iconic duo met in 1980 in the city of Milan when pendium of princess fairy tale fantasies. cially in terms of work. Sicily was our very design our collections. We have our crea- design is to experience a complicated kind of beauty, like both were working as assistants for designer Giorgio Cor- You asserted that women are princess- first dream and love that we translated into tive imprint but also like to be enriched by exploring the majestic landscape of Sicily with its Baroque reggiari. Domenico Dolce, 58, the son of a tailor, is Sicil- es. What do you mean? a modern all-embracing aesthetic. Sartorial the special characteristics of the various towns, monasteries, quiet roads, rich soil flourishing with ian, while Stefano Gabbana, the son of a factory worker, dd: Today’s woman is a princess who is the art that nurtures our clothes and the parts of the world. In the past we have cre- orange and lemon plantations, its white sand beaches. was born in Milan 54 years ago. They became Dolce & yearns for love but also wants more inde- meticulousness regarding our way of work- ated special collections for Russia, China, The iconic couture house literally portrays Sicilian Gabbana in 1982. pendence and autonomy. Our new collec- ing. Sensuality is also part of our maison’s Mexico and Brazil. It’s always interesting to Baroque through expressive, sexy clothes that have the The Milanese fashion house had brought back the bus- tion is a blast of contrast. There is constant genetic code and our vision of life. The create lines for a specific market.” energy and imagination of the south of Italy, where the tier, corsetry and black lace, revelling in carefully cali- affirmation and negation and opposites do secret of our success is in the investigation architecture takes the most complex forms – a style that brated erotic innuendo. But Messrs. Dolce and Gabbana in fact, attract. For this Fall, we made over- and celebration of our roots, our passion for Q: last January, you launched your even ‘baroqued’ the Baroque, adding extra elaborate or- define their strong and sexy style as ‘classic’. sized jackets, deconstructed coats, slim as the Italian culture: the warmth, hospital- debut line of abayas and hijabs – your namentation to the facades of buildings. “We try to be an evolving tradition. We work always well as big volumes. Imagination, absolute ity, importance of family, food and ritual, first collection in the arab world – in Co-founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana en- starting from a classical aesthetic,” they say. creativity and new handcrafted working which lend integrity to our aesthetic. It is a charmeuse fabrics that evoked the spirit ter their office in Milan in the company of their two Lab- processes are dominant. Every collection fact that we are inspired by Italian women. of la dolce vita. radors, one black and one chocolate. Q: could you describe your relationship with the involves a lot of research. Our designs are They remain our muses, with their passion- SG: “Yes, we did and the first collection was I reached the office of the famed Italian design duo – a Uae? With dubai? experimental but also a return to the ori- ate sensuality: strong working women and so successful that we’ve created a new line dense, voluptuously furnished living room the pair uses SG: “We have always felt at home in the UAE. There is gins of tailoring.” maternal figures. Sophia Loren from the which is now available in stores.” for meetings. Deep burgundy and gold decorate the walls, great warmth among the people. We’re impressed by the SG: Today’s girls are the new princesses. past and Monica Bellucci today, represent with assorted large paintings all over. One in particular speed of development in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There They know exactly what they want: cer- Italian femininity.” Q: are you planning a further expansion catches my eye, as it resembles the composition of the are new amazing buildings in Dubai every time. It is an tainly prince charming, but they are also SG: “Sicily is a land of ancient cultures and in the Gulf? Madonna del Cardellino by Raphael. But this bizarre ver- extremely dynamic city that is a magnet of great energy.” independent. Constantly changing their certainly a source of constant inspiration. SG: “For the moment we focus on this sion is by pop artist Giuseppe Veneziano who has depicted dd: “Each time, I leave a piece of my heart there, espe- look, they creatively experiment with Greeks, Arabs and Normans have all con- opening. One step at a time.” a peculiar Madonna with the head of the entertainment cially for the colours and scents of spices. The UAE is a star Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. At her feet, two young country yet rich in traditions.” Q: and future projects? babies are frolicking, but not a little Jesus as expected, dd: At the moment we are concentrat- with a little St. John the Baptist, as portrayed in Raphael’s Q: dolce & Gabbana counts almost 250 boutiques ing on the high-couture catwalk in Naples, masterpiece. Instead, the children here have the heads of around the world. in a few days a new boutique will in July, in its fifth consecutive year. It’s TStefano and Domenico. open at the Mall of the emirates. How is that impor- a project we hold dear and that surely involves a lot of work. Then comes August, vacation time...” A happy blast of contrasts: from the Fall Winter 2016-17 Collection. L: Stefano Gabbana, R: Domenico Dolce. The secret of their success is in the investigation and celebration of their roots, and their passion for the Italian culture. 24 • STYLE STYLE • 25.