Some of the names of the biggest powerhouses of fashion in Italy you are sure to recognize, such names as Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, and Gucci.
Dolce and Gabbana was started by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who met when they worked in the same fashion house. They eventually started their own fashion house in 1982 in Milano and became successful when they launched their own women's clothing line in 1985. They later went on to launch a leotard line in 1989 and win an Oscar for their perfume scent.
Armani was started by Georgio Armani. His career started when he started working in a seller in a men's wear department store. In the 1960's he started designing clothes for Nino Cerruti, a huge fashion house in Italy, where his talent was appreciated and in high demand. Armani began to work as a freelancer in the fashion industry, working with several different labels, becoming successful not only in the world of clothes, but also with perfumes and sunglasses.
Gucci was started by Guccio Gucci, an Italian business man and fashion designer. Gucci opened his first store in Florence in 1920 which sold leather bagsto horsemen. In 1938 he opened up another store in Rome, his sons helping run the store with him, and in 1951 he built a store in Milan.