Stefano Gabbana was born on November 14, 1962, in Venice, Italy.

As a student, Gabbana studied graphic design.

In 1980, Gabbana met Domenico Dolce when they worked at the same atelier in Venice. They began to do freelance design in 1982, when they began doing business together. When their first collection was shown in 1986, it received acclaim from around the globe. Four years later, they revealed their premiere menswear collection and opened their first boutique in Milan. Also in 1990, they started designing for the Complice line for the Genny Group in Milan.

Recently, the fashion house published a book chronicling ten years of Dolce & Gabbana history.

Dolce & Gabbana are on the same line of couture houses as Armani, Gucci, Versace, Prada and Moschino.

Dolce and Gabbana announced on 20 February 2005 that they would split up after 19 years. Stefano Gabbana said that "This is a love split, not a business split". Moreover he said "Domenico and I are still very good friends and, as for the working relationship, we are still very much together. Business, in fact, has never been better."