D omenico Dolce is an Italian fashion designer and a co-founder of the iconic luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana. Born in Sicily to a tailor father, Dolce developed his skills in fashion from a young age. He met his future business and one-time personal partner, Stefano Gabbana, in Milan in the early 1980s. Together, they founded their eponymous brand in 1985, and it has since grown into one of the most famous and recognizable luxury brands in the world.

Dolce is considered the master tailor and the technical force behind the brand's distinctive and often flamboyant aesthetic, which draws heavily on Sicilian culture and Italian cinematic glamour. While Gabbana is the brand's primary marketing mind, Dolce is the craftsman. The duo has built a global empire that spans ready-to-wear, alta moda (haute couture), leather goods, and fragrances. Despite numerous controversies over the years, they have maintained tight control over their company, keeping it private and independent in an industry dominated by large conglomerates.