The two designers made their debut on the catwalk in 1985 by participating in "Milano Collezioni" in the New Talents category. The following year, they presented the first self-produced collection, in their atelier in Milan. Towards the end of the '80s, they began to expand their production giving rise to their first womenswear show in Tokyo and creating the first underwear and beachwear line.
In 1990 they launched the first men's collection in New York and opened a showroom. Since the first two shops in Milan and Bari were opened to date, the Dolce & Gabbana fashion house has extended to 40 countries worldwide.
The collections of the two designers have always been characterised by a skillful fusion of cosmopolitan and traditional characters, particularly related to culture and Italian taste. The same balance is reflected in the women's fashion creations, highlighting their shapes and sensuality with sexy outfits, as opposed to extremely male pinstripe suits complete with a tie. A man who wears Dolce & Gabbana is very attentive to detail. However, he can wear both an impeccable pinstripe suit or tattered jeans combined with a blazer with naturalness.
In order to maintain their creative independence from each season's fashion trends, the two designers create the Dolce&Gabbana line (without spaces, unlike the name of the company, which specialises in haute couture and prèt-à-porter, and less influenced by changes in fashion).
The two designers have made their being Italian an emblem and are particularly appreciated by Hollywood stars. Dolce and Gabbana dress all the current rock stars and some pop or sports stars including Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, David Beckham, Ricky Martin and many others. There are also the personal designers of Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Isabella Rossellini, Kylie Minogue and Angelina Jolie.