LOS ANGELES: Ace designer duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have apologised for calling children born out of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) “synthetic”, five months after they defended their controversial remarks about the reproductive technology.

The designers, who were a couple for 20 years, had also opposed gay adoption during an interview to an Italian magazine.

The duo’s comments sparked controversy with stars like Sir Elton John, Ryan Murphy and Madonna criticising them. John and Murphy even called for a boycott of the brand.

Dolce now has said that his comments were “inappropriate”.

“I am so sorry. It was not my intention to offend anyone. I’ve done some soul-searching. I’ve talked to Stefano a lot about this. I’ve realised that my words were inappropriate, and I apologise. They are just kids,” Dolce said in an interview to Vogue magazine.

“You don’t need labels, baby labels. I think everybody chooses for themselves. I don’t know everything about IVF, but I love it when people are happy. It’s like medicine. Science has been put on the table to help people,” he said.  Gabbana chimed in, “When they ask if I wanted to be a parent, I say yes, of course, why not? But it’s not possible in Italy. I had thought of going to California and having a baby, but I couldn’t bring the baby back to Italy, because you need the mother’s passport. I asked about adoption in Italy. It’s very hard for a straight couple here — imagine if you are gay.”