What are the first names of Dolce and Gabbana?

The first names of Dolce and Gabbana are Domenico and Stefano.

The name Dolce & Gabbana comes directly from the surnames of Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who founded the fashion house in 1985. Domenico Dolce was born in Sicily, while Stefano Gabbana was born in Milan, giving the partnership a mix of southern Italian and northern Italian influences.

The designers met while working in Milan and began collaborating before establishing their own label. Their early collections helped define the brand’s recognizable style, which often drew on Mediterranean imagery, corsetry, black lace, tailoring and dramatic prints.

A common mix-up is treating “Dolce” as a first name or assuming the two names describe a single designer. They are separate surnames belonging to the label’s two co-founders. The company is often shortened to D&G, although that abbreviation has also been used for a distinct diffusion line.