Stefano Gabbana has admitted that the public outcry to comments made by his design partner Domenico Dolce could affect sales of their high fashion brand.

The Italian fashion designer, 52, admitted that Dolce and Gabbana could lose 'some Elton John fans' in the wake of the controversy sparked by Dolce, 56, describing IVF babies as 'synthetic'.

Sir Elton John, 67, launched an online #BoycottDolceGabanna campaign after the comments were published in Italian magazine Panorama and condemned the designer for 'wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF.'

Gabbana, who said yesterday amidst the outcry that 'it was never our intention to judge', has now hit out at Sir Elton and called him a 'fascist'. He has also started a #BoycottEltonJohn tag and posted a 'Je Suis D&G' poster to his Instagram page.

It came as Italian senator Roberto Formigoni described Sir Elton as the 'Taliban', likening him to the Islamic fanatics who murdered staff at the political magazine Charlie Hebdo in a savage attack on free speech.

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Boycott: Sir Elton John (pictured with his husband David Furnish and their children), has spoken out against Dolce and Gabbana and claimed that he will never wear any of their clothes ever again after their comments

Boycott: Designer Stefano Gabbana (left) has admitted that the public outcry to controversial comments made by his business partner Domenico Dolce (right) about IVF could affect sales of the high fashion brand

Response: Gabbana has now hit out at Sir Elton John and called him a 'fascist'. He has also started a #BoycottEltonJohn tag and posted a black and white 'Je Suis D&G' poster to his Instagram page (pictured)

The designer, who has previously spoken of his own desire to have children, defended his business partner and claimed 'he wasn't expecting [the boycott] from an intelligent person like Elton'.

He told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: 'Dolce has his own ideas. These attacks are fascist.

'I wasn't expecting it from a person like Elton John whom I considered - I underline considered - intelligent. You preach understanding, you preach tolerance and then you attack? Just because someone thinks differently to you?.

'Is that supposed to be a democratic way of thinking? Enlightened? He's ignorant, in the sense that he denies ways of seeing things that may not be his but are just as deserving of respect.'

Asked whether he believes the boycott could affect Dolce and Gabbana sales, the designer smiled and said: 'Maybe… we'll lose some Elton John fans, maybe we'll get some more mums. Who knows?'

Veteran equality campaigner Peter Tatchell is already planning a protest outside the designers' flagship store in central London on Thursday after accusing the pair of 'double standards' for their views.

And fashion experts have warned the backlash to the controversial comments could damage the brand, with high-profile celebrities choosing not to support it.

Mr Tatchell told MailOnline: 'Dolce and Gabanna are echoing ill-informed, outdated and homophobic prejudices about gay parents. Research spanning 40 years shows that children brought up by gay parents are just as happy and well-adjusted as those from traditional heterosexual families.

'Dolce and Gabanna are entitled to their views but we are entitled to protest against them. We urge everyone - gay and straight - to boycott their clothes.

'It's intolerable for these designers to make millions out of the gay community and then turn around and insult our families. They've stabbed us in the back.'

Anger: Sir Elton John (pictured with his husband David Furnish and their children Elijah and Zachary) called for a boycott of designers Dolce & Gabbana after they criticised children born via IVF as 'synthetic children'

A host of celebrities took to Twitter to today continue to support the #BoycottDolceGabbana campaign including Peter Crouch who said he would 'turn down' any future advertisement campaigns with the brand

The designers, under growing social media pressure, issued a statement earlier this week saying their comments supporting traditional families with a mother and a father weren't intended to judge the choices made by others.

Gabbana added: 'We do believe in freedom and love.'

Dolce, 56, said he was expressing his view about family based on his experience growing up in a traditional Sicilian family 'made up of a mother, a father and children'.

'I am very well aware of the fact that there are other types of families and they are as legitimate as the one I've known,' he added.

The furore erupted after Sicilian-born Dolce criticised fertility treatment and same-sex parenting, describing IVF babies as 'synthetic'.

He said: 'You are born and you have a father and a mother. At least it should be like that.

'That's why I'm not convinced by what I call chemical children, synthetic babies.

'They are wombs for hire, semen chosen from a catalogue. And then you have to explain to these children who their mother is.'

Asked whether he wanted to be a father, Mr Dolce said: 'I am gay. I cannot have a child. I don't believe that you can have everything in life.'

Sir Elton, who has two sons with husband David Furnish responded angrily, vowing to never wear Dolce and Gabbana clothes again.

He wrote on Instagram: 'How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic'.

'And shame on you for wagging your judgmental 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.'

Support: Victoria Beckham, 40, sent her support to friend Sir Elton John, 67, (pictured together in 2010) after he urged fans to boycott Dolce & Gabbana after Domenico Dolce's comment that IFV babies were 'synthetic'

A host of celebrities including Ricky Martin, Courtney Love, comedian Matt Lucas and entertainer John Barrowman have joined the campaign to #BoycottDolceGabbana in the wake of the designer's comments

In total, more than 50,000 people have now shared the #BoycottDolceGabbana tag on Twitter, with the subject becoming one of the most top trending topics.

A host of outraged celebrities appeared to agree Sir Elton's post and have offered their support to the singer over the last 48 hours..

Victoria Beckham, a former Dolce and Gabbana ambassador who is now close friends with Sir Elton, led the outpouring of support with the message: ''Sending love to Elton David Zachary Elijah & all the beautiful IVF babies x vb.'

Footballer Peter Crouch adopted the #BoycottDolceGabbana tag and said he would 'turn down' any future advertisement campaigns with the brand.

Ryan Murphy, who produced Glee, said: 'These designers horrifying views are never in fashion. Their clothes are as ugly as their hate.'

Ricky Martin, the gay singer whose twin sons were carried by a surrogate mother, also blasted the fashion designers for the comment.

He wrote: 'Your voices are too powerful to be spreading too much hate. Wake up, it's 2015. Love yourself guys.'

Entertainer John Barrowman MBE said: 'I just read the article. @dolcegabbana sound IGNORANT and STUPID. I agree with @eltonjohndotcom #BoycottDolceGabbana'

Comedian Matt Lucas said: 'Just read Dolce and Gabbana's weird, bigoted comments about raising kids. Ugh, those guys are so creepy.'

And Courtney Love said: Just round up all my Dolce & Gabbana pieces, I want to burn them. I'm just beyond words and emotions. Boycott senseless bigotry! #boycottD&G'

As the storm raged on yesterday, Gabbana continued to stoke the fire and was joined by a host of Italian politicians who publicly supported the fashion designers.

Asked if he had spoken to Sir Elton, Gabbana said: 'It's useless, this is just an authoritarian way of seeing things: if you agree with me, good, otherwise I'll attack. And I wrote to him, in the comments on Instagram: fascist.'

Interview: Dolce made his inflammatory remarks in an article for an Italian magazine this month

It came as Italian senator Roberto Formigoni likened Sir Elton to the Islamic fanatics who murdered staff at the political magazine Charlie Hebdo.

In an extraordinary rant, he said: 'The campaign launched against the two stylists by Elton John is shameful and intolerable.

'Elton John is a Taliban, he is using against Dolce ad Gabbana the same methods used by Taliban against Charlie Hebdo.'

According to The Telegraph, he added that the pair's views were 'significant' because they are homosexual and 'think along the same lines as the majority of Italians.'

'SHAME ON YOU': ELTON JOHN'S FURIOUS RANT AGAINST DESIGNERS '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' Advertisement

Carlo Giovanardi, of Italy's New Centre Right party, added: 'The gay Taleban (sic) are trying to boycott Dolce and Gabbana just because they dared to say that... every child has a right to a mother and a father.'

And Elvira Savino, an MP with the Forza Italia party, said: 'Elton John is an intolerant person who wants to block anyone who thinks differently to him.'

It came as fashion experts warned that the backlash to the controversial comments could have an effect on the Dolce and Gabbana brand.

Caroline Herz, an industry expert and principle lecturer in fashion at Manchester Metropolitan University, told MailOnline: 'I think the remarks are really awful, really terrible. But then with freedom of expression everyone is entitled to their opinion.

'I think it is extremely damaging. I do think that it will, in the immediate, affect the brand but I'm not sure it will affect the brand in the long-term.

'I think it will make people think before they buy. The exposure that has previously come from high-profile celebrities, I think, will cut-out because they will stop wearing their merchandise.

'I don't think they [celebrities] will be seen to support their brand at catwalk shows because they are highly controversial comments.

'I think social media will damage them highly but at what cost I don't know, it remains to be seen.'

'How dare you': Sir Elton posted a photo of design duo Dolce & Gabbana on his Instagram page and responded to their comments in a strongly-worded attack

Hitting back: Stefano Gabbana asked, 'Who wants to see him dressed in Dolce & Gabbana?'

However, Concetta Lanciaux, a luxury industry consultant and former adviser to Bernard Arnault, disagreed.

She said: 'Consumers understand the humour of Domenico and Stefano, who are known for their wit.

'In addition, new consumers, even if they do not agree with the statement, like to think we live in a free world where people still can express their feelings and opinions.'

Dolce and Gabbana once had a romantic relationship but have remained business partners since it ended.

The designers have always opposed gay marriage, but have previously spoken of their desire to have children. In a 2005 interview, Gabbana said that 'of course' he would want to become a father.

The following year, he revealed that he had asked a female friend to be a surrogate mother to his children, but added: '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 pair were also once pictured together on the cover of Vanity Fair's Italian edition surrounded by young children, with the headline: 'The desire to become parents'.

In that interview, Dolce said that he wanted an 'entire football team' of children, but added: 'In life I have had everything it is possible to have but I have the small handicap of being gay so having a child is not possible for me. I could adopt or get one from abroad but I'm paralysed by the fear that the child could feel exploited.'

Sir Elton married long-term partner David Furnish in December. Their sons Zachary and Elijah are four and two.

The singer's previous spats include one with Madonna, whom he called a 'fairground stripper'.

The billionaire fashion duo with an A-list clientele who were a couple for 23 years

Posh: Stefano Gabbana (centre) with supermodel Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana came from modest backgrounds to become two of the richest men in Italy.

Dolce, 56, was born near Palermo, Sicily, where his father was a tailor and his mother worked in a shop selling fabric and clothes.

He met Gabbana, 52 – who was born in Milan to a factory worker father and laundress mother – in a club in the early 1980s.

Dolce helped his friend find a job with him working for designer Giorgio Correggiari, and their friendship blossomed into a relationship.

They moved in together in 1983 and founded Dolce & Gabbana fashion house in 1985. Their big break then came in 1993 when Madonna signed them to design costumes for her Girlie tour – including her famous black beaded bra.

The pair ended their relationship after more than 20 years in 2005, admitting they had 'been drifting apart for five years'.

But they remained business partners, with Gabbana describing his friend as 'my family' after the break-up.

They revealed in a 2010 interview that they lived in identical apartments one floor above the other in the same building in Milan.

They also own luxury homes in France and London, as well as hosting lavish parties on their yacht in Monaco.

In 2013 the businessmen joined Bloomberg's prestigious Billionaires' Index, with Dolce's net worth estimated at $2.2billion (£1.5billion) and Gabbana's at around $2.1billion.

They were also acquitted of tax evasion by Italy's highest court in October last year, which overruled decisions by two lower courts to hand them a 20-month suspended sentence for failing to pay tax on around 200million euros (£142million).

They were accused of funnelling funds through a firm in Luxembourg, but following their acquittal issued a statement saying: 'We have always been honest.'

Their brand remains a celebrity favourite and has been worn by A-listers including Kylie Minogue, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.