Dean and Dan Caten are among the most dedicated (and idiosyncratic) people in fashion. Known for their extravagant runway shows, their energetic personalities and their celebrity following, they never leave each other’s side, even for business trips. 

Italian-by-way-of-Canada, they were born and raised in Toronto by their English mother and Italian father. It would be this mix of cultures that would inspire the twin’s desire to return to their motherland and later come to define their brand motto.    

Officially launching as a menswear brand in 1994, it wouldn’t be until 2003 that the brand would expand to include womenswear, after creating 150 pieces for Madonna’s ‘Drowned World Tour’. In fact, the Caten’s would provide tour clothing for all three of the pop triumvirate that ruled the airways during the early noughties, dressing both Christina Aguilera for her ‘Stripped’ tour, and Britney for ‘The Circus Starring Britney Spears’ alongside the queen of pop. If you watched MTV during the first decade of the millenium, then it’s likely you saw DSquared in quite a few of them too. Cool fact: Dan and Dean had a cameo in the music video for Fergie’s (from Black Eyed Peas) ‘Clumsy’. 

The brand’s love affair with the theatrical and celebrities continues to this day.