Business of Fashion Requires Multiple Skills

Enough has been written on Dolce & Gabbana’s Naples show. Past weekend, the designer duo Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce staged their 99-look Alta Moda show on the tiny cobbled streets of the city’s oldest quarter before an invited audience of clients and editors. The Italian house’s answer to couture was inspired by Sophia Loren, who grew up not far from the show’s location.

This story is more about the designer duo’s heart-warming interpersonal skills. I chanced upon a photograph of Delhi’s flamboyant fashionista – JP Singh partying with Stefano at the after party on the beach on Stefano’s Instagram account. I called up JP  and enquired what’s he doing in Naples. The surdy said that Domenico warmly invited him for this exclusive show and is pampering him.

No doubt Domenico and Stefano wouldn’t invest time and energy on any tom-dick & harry. JP’s extravagant ways must be an influencing factor but what is interesting thing to note that how designers of one of the world’s top fashion label develop relationship with a prospective client. Domenico asked his assistant, Francesca to get a bespoke jacket painted with Napoli sky on it exclusively for his new friend for the show. Not only that, they even hosted JP at their farmhouse.

Business of fashion is tough. Designers’ creative skills are important but so is the art of building relationship. JP sure is floored by the VIP treatment extended to him by Domenico and Stefano for their men’s show, jewelry show, womenswear show and the extravaganza at Napoli where select 200 guests were invited from world over. In return our Desi dude hasn’t given any business to D&G yet. But relationship building is all about pampering. The fruits come later.

Not often celebrity designers come down from their high-horses. The one who does, win!