Domenico Dolce says Rome is a triumph of beauty

Fashion Network

4 days ago

Designer Domenico Dolce is in Rome for Dolce & Gabbana's Grand Tour, a five-day event scheduled for July 12-16. He talked about the city and its influence, saying that 'we see Rome as a 'Triumph of Beauty', the title of the volume-gift that summarises, like a notebook, our events in the capital. Rome is a test of maturity for us. We used to think it was an impossible venue, and we avoided it. However, thanks to the municipal authorities' collaboration, to the assistance of the artisans who have worked with us, especially at the Sartoria Tirelli tailoring atelier, and the light touch and simplicity of the people we came across, it was all very easy, even compared to other cities where we showed with our Grand Tour in recent years, like Taormina, Naples, Florence and Alghero. Rome is unique, it is the point of origin of history, from the [Roman] Empire and its architecture to the popes' influence, and that of the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Rome colonised the world. Italian cinema was born in Rome's Cinecittà, and [Italian] fashion too, with La Dolce Vita and ateliers like Schuberth and Sorelle Fontana, was born in Rome. Think of the Vacanze Romane [film] and a whole fictional world opens up, with the Trevi Fountain and Via Veneto.'
Dolce spoke at a press conference alongside Fedele Usai, managing director of Dolce & Gabbana, and Alessandro Onorato, the Rome city councillor in charge of major events, tourism, fashion and sport. Stefano Gabbana was absent, as he was on May 14 at the inauguration of the Dal cuore alle mani (from heart to hands) exhibition at Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, open until August 13.
The two designers have warmly thanked Rome mayor Gualtieri and councillor Onorato. 'Dolce & Gabbana,' said Onorato, 'has invested a great deal for this five-day event in our city. Those who say we don't need anything as we can live off our history, are wrong. Of course, we had to wade through the necessary red tape, but (...) the events that are being held are having an extremely positive influence on tourism, and on the jobs of all those who have been involved with them. To the benefit of the reputation of Rome and Italy, of which our city is the capital.'
Dolce & Gabbana's Grand Tour began with the exhibition at Palazzo delle Esposizioni and continued with a tribute exhibition in via Veneto to Italian director Federico Fellini and his film La Dolce Vita, featuring 65 unpublished period photos and curated by Edoardo Dionea Cicconi, open until July 17. On Sunday July 13, Dolce & Gabbana presented the latest high jewellery collection at Villa Adriana. On Monday, July 14, the label's haute couture collection will show in the Fori Imperiali, a tribute to the city's history inspired by Fellini's Satyricon. On July 15, it will be the turn of men's haute couture on the Castel Sant'Angelo bridge, with a tribute to ecclesiastical tailoring. The show will be staged in collaboration with Sartoria Tirelli and its costume designers, winners of 18 Academy Awards.