Dolce & Gabbana's Gela campaign sparks controversy

Dolce & Gabbana has chosen Gela, a Sicilian town with a rich Greek-Roman heritage but also plagued by illegal construction, environmental damage from Eni's petrochemical plant, and lack of urban renewal, as the backdrop for its Fall-Winter 2021 campaign. Photographed by Austrian Jurgen Teller, the campaign features models in glittering 80s-inspired outfits, an incongruous donkey mascot, and the giant 'Multicinema Hollywood' sign in a desolate suburban setting. The brand avoided iconic historical sites, opting instead for a rundown neighborhood with broken fences, poor doors, and rusty railings. Critics on social media questioned why Gela's monumental heritage was ignored, while others saw the choice as a deliberate rejection of tourist-friendly clichés. The campaign includes a short video with a hypnotic electronic soundtrack, focusing on close-ups of clothing details and the D&G logo. Artribune's Helga Marsala notes the project's intentions were good but the execution mediocre, failing to create a compelling visual reflection on the area's aesthetics and contrasts.