Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

2 0 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A departure from the designers’ usual process of choosing a place – often Sicily – and working their theme up from there, the inspiration for this collection came from much closer to home. It has been a rough few years for the pair – having been cleared of tax evasion by Italy’s highest court in October last year after an almost ten year battle – a period of their lives for which they required the support of their families. This collection is an ode to the family and friends that gave them that unending support, and it is a beautiful, honest portrayal of one of the most important aspects of humanity. Here, the pair are honouring the people that we can always turn to when the chips are down with an honest recreation of the old adage that blood is thicker than water. As of March 2014, the Dolce & Gabbana brand is present in 40 countries. It is synonymous with fashion even on the lips of those who do not consider themselves fashion connoisseurs. The designers’ direct control of the entire process, from creation to sale, enables the label to convey – in the most effective manner and through all the expressions of the brand – its strongly distinctive style and solid DNA, based on sartorial tradition and Mediterranean culture, with a special emphasis on Sicilian culture. This collection is one that is a tad more sentimental than their previous, but it does not lack the quality, and it is sure to continue the legacy that these two stalwarts of fashion have continued to forge for several decades.