Chinese couture

The duo created a big buzz with their show. They invited deep-pocketed clients and A-list ambassadors like Scarlett Johansson, Naomi Campbell and Stephanie Seymour. There were also the fashion industry's big names like Anna Wintour.

And it turned out to be a big success. One client from Russia who did not take part in the show apparently ordered a number of items through e-mail, even though the clothes did not appear on the cover of any fashion magazine. Gabbana says it's a deliberate move because haute couture customers would not want to see their dresses in a magazine.

"The concept at the heart of Alta Moda is uniqueness. Every dress is a unique, tailor-made piece, created by dressmakers that only focus on the Alta Moda clothes and that still use traditional and ancient techniques," Dolce explains.

What if more than one client wants the same piece? "First come, first serve," Gabbana says.

Is China's fashion market ready for such uniqueness?

Judging from the shows by world-renowned fashion houses for the Chinese market in the last few months, yes.

In April, Giorgio Armani held his biggest show in Beijing, bringing along five haute couture pieces specially made for China.