D & G Broke My Heart

by ateliermotives

Photo: REUTERS

As lyfe would have it, two of my favorite Italian designers had me on cloud nine and then it started to pour. You’ve probably heard of the awful comments made by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in an interview to the Italian magazine Panorama which surfaced this month. They bluntly shared their view on gay adoption and in vitro fertilization: “We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one”, and “I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog.” Sir Elton John then took to Instagram and shamed D&G for their comments & casting judgment.  Several celebs tweeted to defend and support Elton John. Within hours #BoycottDolceGabbana was trending. 

How sad and shortsighted of the designers to broadcast disturbing comments about such a delicate personal issue. It’s irresponsible. When you are in the spotlight as D & G, when you have such influence over millions of people it’s your responsibility to use that stage for good. Or for neutrality. Or to just share stunningly beautiful clothes. Is it their place to express personal opinions? Are they afforded the world’s ear because they are world-famous designers? D & G’s comments are clearly upsetting (for most of us), but perhaps it is also bothersome that they felt they could or should share their view at all. The two designers are gay, were once together and now are separated. Their own sexual orientation would of course never excuse these comments, but it feels even sadder that they speak so vehemently against a process that could offer themselves the gift of children.

It’s hard to ignore the religious and societal shunning of homosexuality in much of Europe. I’m sure their surroundings and upbringing have conditioned them to think in a very straight (no pun intended) and narrow way. Dolce basically admitted this himself when the designers issued a statement a few days after. They noted their belief in freedom of expression and said they never intended to judge the decisions of others, only share their views and feelings on the matter. Dolce also reflected on his traditional Sicilian upbringing.

What an ironic and almost perfectly logical chain of events. They produce a beautiful F/W 2015 women’s show in Milan that has all the world gushing over their celebration of mothers and love. Just two weeks later, what felt like a heartwarming message is cast in a different light after their comments. It now seems crystal clear their women’s show was a projection of the ONLY way they see family: borne through a mother. The only kind of family is natural, and therefore beautiful, and bore of a mother who clutches the children that came out of her very body.

The designers comments don’t drastically alter the splendor and magnificence of their F/W show for myself. Growing up in an Italian-American Catholic household, I can’t say I don’t recognize the cultural shaping Dolce speaks of. But in the end, I just find it sad. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but sometimes opinions are like toothbrushes. And you really shouldn’t share.

Xx,

Mel