Stefano Gabbana was born in Milan on 14 November 1962 to a working family from the Veneto; his parents, Piera and Lino, often held two or three jobs at a time. He became interested in fashion as a teenager, drawn to Fiorucci, and studied graphic design at the Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche in Rome.
In 1980 he joined the designer Giorgio Correggiari, who hired him for sportswear, and there met Domenico Dolce, who helped him with sketching and tailoring; Gabbana later credited Correggiari with teaching them which pitfalls to avoid. The pair went independent in 1983, staging early shows in a small apartment and even a fast-food restaurant with friends as models, and debuted at Milano Collezioni in October 1985. Lingerie and beachwear followed in 1989, menswear in 1990, a New York showroom at 532 Broadway in November 1990 and the first fragrance in October 1992.
Where Dolce is the tailor, Gabbana shapes fabric choices, styling and the overall mood of a collection, and gives the final judgement at fittings. He has been the more public voice of the house, through its advertising and on social media. Madonna's Girlie Show costumes in 1993 brought worldwide fame; by 2009 the company had 113 stores, 3,500 staff and turnover above €1 billion, and the diffusion line D&G was folded into the main brand in 2011.
His outspokenness has also brought controversy. A 2015 dispute with Elton John over Dolce's comments on IVF, and Instagram messages about China in November 2018, which led to the cancellation of the house's Shanghai show, both drew boycotts; the company said his account had been hacked. Like Dolce, he was convicted of tax evasion in 2013 and cleared on appeal in 2014. He stepped down as chairman in December 2025, a decision announced in April 2026, and remains co-creative director.