Stefano Gabbana Steps Down as Dolce & Gabbana Chairman

Stefano Gabbana, the co-founder of Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, has stepped down as the brand's chairman.

Mr Gabbana resigned as chairman in January, according to a company filing with the local chamber of commerce. He will continue in his creative role at the company.

His resignation came "as part of a natural evolution of its organisational structure and governance", the fashion house said. The company added that these resignations have "no impact whatsoever on the creative activities carried out by Stefano Gabbana on behalf of the group."

Alfonso Dolce, the brother of co-founder Domenico Dolce and the current D&G chief executive, has replaced Mr Gabbana as chairman. He took over the role in January, according to Bloomberg, which first reported news of Mr Gabbana's resignation.

The Italian company has been squeezed by an ongoing slowdown in the luxury goods sector, compounded recently by uncertainties from the Iran war.

Mr Gabbana was present at D&G's last runway show in February, with their longtime muse Madonna as a front-row guest. Both he and Mr Dolce greeted Madonna personally at her seat after the show and brought her backstage.

D&G was formed in 1985 by Domenico Dolce and Mr Gabbana, who remained its creative leaders. The brand grew in popularity in the 1990s with cone bras, corset looks and tailored black dresses.

The designers have often drawn on Mr Dolce's Sicilian roots, with sheer materials and netting for menswear and bright floral and fruit prints and jewellery with oversized crosses. They also expanded into fragrance, home goods and watches.