Sir Elton John has called for a boycott of the designer clothing brand Dolce Gabbana after its owners called children born through IVF “synthetic”. Openly gay business partners Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana had already attacked gay marriage but this week extended their objection to the children of gay couples.

The Italians designers were once a couple themselves, they ended their sexual relationship some time ago whilst continuing to work together. They told Panorama Magazine: “We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”

Mr Dolce said procreation “must be an act of love”. He continued “You are born to a mother and a father – or at least that’s how it should be… I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog.” Gabbana added: “The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging.”

This led Sir Elton to post an angry message of his Instagram account, defending the two children he has with his partner David Furnish. The message read: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as “synthetic”. And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children. Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana”.

This is not the first time the designers have caused outrage in the gay community. In 2006 Mr Gabbana said: “I am opposed to the idea of a child growing up with two gay parents… A child needs a mother and a father. I could not imagine my childhood without my mother. I also believe that it is cruel to take a baby away from its mother.”

The boycott could do serious damage to the brand as Sir Elton is a respected figure in the gay community.