A model wears Chinese-style pieces, part of the Dolce & Gabbana's 2016 spring/summer collection, designed by Italian duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

"We came to see the boutiques and spend time with customers. We live in Milan. It's far from China. But we want to see our customers, dine at a very simple restaurant, to see what they eat and drink, and see how they live. If you want to know a country, you have to be in the midst of the people. This is the best way to understand the market."

Asked if they will work with Chinese celebrities, they say not at the moment.

"We prefer to talk to ordinary people," says Gabbana, referring to their latest advertising campaign "Mama Collection", in which, men, women and children are dressed in Dolce & Gabbana clothes. The designers say that a model posed with her mother, grandmother and her baby－generations, depicting real family.

"We love the sense of family. It is the universal value we want to highlight. In the Internet era, it is easy to lose your roots and your identity. But when you encounter any problem, you rely on your mama, your family."

Every time they visit China, they walk in the streets, just to see ordinary people.

And echoing what they see, Dolce says: "The younger generation is very fashion conscious. China is a country that strikes a balance between old and new."

Contact the writer at chenjie@chinadaily.com.cn