Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who were panned by celebrities for their controversial comments against in-vitro fertilisation, have defended their remarks, saying it was a "private point of view".
Dolce had called children conceived by same-sex parents via IVF "synthetic", while Gabbana had said, "The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging."
Celebrities urged a boycott of Dolce & Gabbana products in response to their comments.
The designers, who were a couple for 20 years, have now clarified their stand in an interview with CNN.
"I respect you because you choose what you want. I respect me because I choose what I want... This just my point of private view," Dolce said.
The two appeared to disagree over IVF with Gabbana seeming more open to the idea while Dolce explained that his Sicilian background ingrained in him a belief in the strong, traditional family.
The duo's comments to an Italian magazine sparked controversy with stars like Elton John, Ryan Murphy and Madonna criticising him. John and Murphy even called for a boycott of the brand.
