Fashion's fantastic open house

[Photo provided to China Daily]

"Freedom is important. It's hard. But we pay the bills. We work a lot, and we take risks."

In recent years, they've made decisions that may not seem acceptable in the fashion business today, like closing the profitable sub-label D&G and launching the women's couture line, which Dolce has dreamed of for a long time as a couturier. The men's couture line debuted in January, following requests from women clients' spouses.

"When we stopped D&G, people were like: 'Ah, you are crazy'. For us, we don't see tomorrow. We see three years from now," Gabbana says.

While there are economic uncertainties like the ruble's plunge and China's slowdown, the couture clients－who are at the top of the financial pyramid－don't seem to be affected in their pursuit of glamour.

"We consider these factors, but we are always positive. Fashion is fashion. People want to be beautiful," Gabbana says.

"Fashion is a dream. Alta Moda is the top of our dream. And if you dream a lot, there is the possibility for it to come true."