Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Sartoria 2024 in Sardinia masterfully blended Italian heritage with modern entertainment, showcasing the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and glamour. This unforgettable event highlighted their vision for the future while honouring the richness of their past.
“Beauty is the most important thing—I want to be surrounded by beauty every moment. Beauty is a pillar of a brand,” explained Domenico Dolce, one-half of Dolce & Gabbana, with his business partner Stefano Gabbana beside him against the backdrop of the hazy Sardinian sun. This ethos has been the driving force behind their work, and nowhere was this more evident than at the recent Alta Moda 2024 showcase.
Since 2012, Dolce & Gabbana have staged elaborate Alta Moda events celebrating Italian craftsmanship and cultural diversity. This year, Sardinia, with its rich folkloric traditions and dedication to emblematic crafts, was the chosen location. Over five nights, the duo brought together press, celebrities, and VIP clientele for a series of events transcending a mere display of couture collections. With award–show–style performances, 20-minute runway prologues, and branded vacation resorts, Dolce & Gabbana highlighted their understanding of fashion as entertainment.
Glamour reigned supreme at Alta Moda 2024, as Dolce & Gabbana took over the comune of Pula, southwest of Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital. This small town, known for its archaeological richness and status as a vacation hot spot, provided a perfect setting. The ancient ruins of Nora, now mostly submerged beneath the sea, acted as the venue for the main show.
“It’s full of history and full of civilization,” Dolce noted about the coastal village. To bridge the ancient and modern worlds, the brand enlisted artist Phillip K. Smith III to create abstract mirrored sculptures that reflected the history of the site. Dolce discovered Smith’s work online and saw it as the perfect complement to their vision.
The festivities began with a high-jewellery presentation on Monday night, showcasing necklaces and earrings made with fine gold thread handwoven to mimic lace, a popular technique in 18th and 19th-century Sardinia. The following evening, the Alta Moda fashion show took centre stage. Inspired by the 1960s, the collection focused on pleated column gowns in ebony, cut close to the body and adorned with gold filigree in the form of belts, corsets, bras, exaggerated earrings, and bejewelled necklaces reminiscent of Byzantine adornments.
Weaving, a cherished Sardinian craft, featured prominently. Cotton and wool textiles, still produced on looms in the region, were used throughout the collection. Ivory cotton shirting and majestic capes, meticulously handmade from tubular weavings of linen, wool, and jacquard silk, showcased Dolce & Gabbana’s dedication to Italian majesty steeped in baroque glamour.
“It’s not easy to make a dress,” Dolce commented. “People think it is because everything is so accessible nowadays, but you have to research. Websites and social media make everything go so fast.” Despite the fast pace of modern fashion, the brand ensured the social media set was not forgotten. Christina Aguilera opened the celebration in a custom pink Dolce & Gabbana silk corset with a feather boa, and Katy Perry closed the week’s performances. Drag superstars Violet Chachki and Trixie Mattel, along with pianist Micah McLaurin, delivered equally dazzling performances. The presence of stars like Naomi Campbell, Halle Bailey, Maluma, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Alessandra Ambrosio added to the event’s allure.
As Dolce & Gabbana quietly celebrated their 40th year in business, the founders made it clear they are focused on the future. “We are only interested in today and tomorrow,” they stated, emphasizing their commitment to evolving and pushing the boundaries of fashion.
Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda 2024 in Sardinia was more than a fashion show; it was a celebration of Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and the brand’s enduring legacy. By blending traditional crafts with modern entertainment, they created an unforgettable experience that not only honoured the past but also looked forward to the future.
