After decades as one of the defining faces behind Dolce & Gabbana, Stefano Gabbana has reportedly stepped down from his role as chairman of the company, in a move that signals a significant internal shift at the Italian luxury label. According to recent reporting, Gabbana actually left the position in December 2025, though news of the resignation only surfaced publicly now. Since then, the role has been taken over by Alfonso Dolce, the brand’s CEO and Domenico Dolce’s brother.
The development lands as a striking moment for a house that has spent four decades shaping a very particular idea of Italian glamour: sensual, theatrical, high-shine and unapologetically excessive. Founded in 1985 by Stefano Gabbanaand Domenico Dolce, the brand grew from a fashion partnership into a global empire spanning womenswear, menswear, beauty and home, while building a celebrity orbit that has long included names like Madonna and Beyoncé.
What happens next remains somewhat unclear. Reports suggest Gabbana is also weighing options for his 40 per cent stake in the business, raising fresh questions about how involved he plans to remain in the brand’s future. That uncertainty is only sharpened by the fact that, despite formally stepping down months ago, he has still remained publicly visible around the label.
The resignation also arrives against the backdrop of broader pressure on the company. Recent reporting indicates that Dolce & Gabbana is dealing with serious financial strain, including substantial debt and restructuring efforts, even as parts of the business, particularly beauty, continue to perform more strongly.
For now, the image of Dolce & Gabbana as a two-man institution has been interrupted, at least formally. Whether this marks the beginning of a deeper separation or simply a corporate reshuffle behind the scenes, it closes one chapter in the public structure of the house and opens another whose shape is still coming into focus.