Dolce & Gabbana's China Crisis: A Media Lynching?
An editorial defends Dolce & Gabbana after a controversial video and social media backlash led to the cancellation of a €12 million show in China, a market representing 30% of the brand's revenue. The author recounts the designers' rise from sleeping in a Renault 4 to building a fully independent fashion group with 93 boutiques and 11 outlets in 80 countries by 2009. Key milestones include early support from a journalist at a textile fair, campaigns shot by Steven Meisel (1992) and others, and dressing stars like Madonna, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston (1999 Oprah appearance). The duo faced tax evasion charges but were acquitted by Italy's Supreme Court. The piece criticizes the media lynching, noting the brand employs over 4,500 people and generates over €1 billion annually.
Key facts
- Dolce & Gabbana cancelled a €12 million show in China after a controversial video and social media backlash.
- China accounts for 30% of Dolce & Gabbana's total revenue.
- Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana started their career sleeping in a Renault 4 outside textile factories.
- They were discovered by a journalist at a textile fair in the mid-1980s.
- Steven Meisel shot their advertising campaigns starting in 1992.
- The duo appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1999 with Whitney Houston.
- They were acquitted of tax evasion by Italy's Supreme Court.
- Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. is 100% owned by the designers with no outside investors.
- By 2009, the brand had 93 boutiques and 11 outlets in 80 countries.
- The brand employs over 4,500 people and has annual revenue exceeding €1 billion.
Entities
Artists
- Domenico Dolce
- Stefano Gabbana
- Rei Kawakubo
- Yohji Yamamoto
- Madonna
- Whitney Houston
- Beyoncé
- Kylie Minogue
- Missy Elliott
- Mary J. Blige
- Giorgio Armani
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Sergio Marchionne
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Jeff Bezos
- Jack Ma
Institutions
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A.
- The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Milan AC
Locations
- Polizzi Generosa
- Milan
- Italy
- China