The "whitest" fashion show. Scandal around the Dolce & Gabbana men's collection

Brand Dolce & Gabbana was again at the center of a high-profile scandal, which experts are already calling one of the most controversial events in the fashion industry in 2026. In an era when standards diversity (diversity) and inclusion have become an integral part of any major show, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana presented the men's collection The Portrait of Man, which was attended by 100 exclusively white men.

Casting as a challenge to society

The collection presented on Saturday in the space Dolce & Gabbana for screenings in Viale Piave in Milan caused a scandal.

The main complaint against the fashion house was the complete lack of racial diversity: there was no racial diversity in the casting not a single colored person. Moreover, the designers did not limit themselves to the racial issue - all the chosen models belonged to the the same type, which created the effect of frightening uniformity on the catwalk. Such a decision looks like a deliberate provocation, given modern global trends.

Contradiction between concept and reality

The situation is especially acute due to the colossal gap between the official manifesto of the collection and what the audience actually saw:

According to publications in Vogue, the concept of the collection was "the fight against society's stubborn desire for a stereotyped idea of male identity".

The designers themselves stated that their goal was "to glorify the individuality of history, the unique features of each man, the complexity of his inner world and his humanity".

Against the background of these words, the casting of 100 almost identical models looks like an outright mockery or a "specific frenzy", since the visuals directly contradict the declared values of individuality.

Black PR strategy

Many analysts agree that the move was not an accidental mistake or a consequence of the designers' personal tastes. Most likely, it is Planned black PR, which is the characteristic style of Domenico and Stefano. Designers seem to deliberately use a sharp social agenda as a "red rag for a bull", provoking the public to react and another wave public cancellation.

This is not the first time that Dolce & Gabbana has been at the center of a racist scandal. In 2016, the brand called its shoes "slave sandals." Four years ago, the company released earrings resembling "Blackamoor" figures. The term "Blackamoor" mainly refers to a historical art and jewelry form depicting stylized images of black Africans as servants or porters, making the term and style controversial and racist in a contemporary context due to the romanticization of oppression.

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