Dean and Dan Caten

Dean and Dan Caten

Dean and Dan Caten
Born Dean and Dan Catenacci
(1964-12-19) December 19, 1964
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Residence London, United Kingdom
Nationality Canadian
Occupation Founders of DSQUARED2
Awards
  • “The Best Breakthrough Design Team” by GQ USA "Men of the Year" – 2003
  • “Aguja de Oro” – 2006
  • “Best designers of the year” by GQ Spain “Man of the Year” – 2007
  • “Best designers of the year” by GQ Germany “Man of the Year” – 2008
  • A star on Canada’s Walk of Fame - 2009
Labels DSQUARED2

Dean and Dan Caten (born Dean and Dan Catenacci) are Canadian fashion designers, radio personalities, and businessmen. They are identical twin brothers and the founders and owners of DSQUARED2, an international fashion house.

Biography

Early life and career

Dean and Dan Caten were born in 1964 as Dean and Dan Catenacci in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Willowdale. They are the youngest of nine children. Their father is from a small town near Sora, Italy.

In 1983, they moved to New York to study fashion at Parsons School of Design, but stayed for only one semester before returning to Toronto. Finding a financial backer in 1986, they launched their first signature womenswear collection, DEanDAN. By 1988 they had signed on to label Ports International (currently Ports 1961)[1] as creative directors to bring the company more fashion forward and upscale. At the same time, the Catens designed for their lower-end, leisure brand, Tabi International. In 1991, the brothers moved to Milan, Italy where they worked as designers for the house of Gianni Versace, and denim brand Diesel, the latter of which funded and launched their namesake brand.[2] They debuted their men's collection in 1994, and in 2003, they launched a women's collection and a men's underwear collection.[3]

Design and fashion shows

The brothers are known for designing clothes and staging elaborate fashion shows. They design men's and women's apparel, men's and women's footwear, fragrances, and cosmetics.[4][2] A runway show in 2005 ended with Christina Aguilera stripping male models of their clothes.[3] In September 2007, the DSquared2 fashion show in Milan featured Rihanna entering the stage in an American muscle car, followed by a runway walk.[5] In January 2010, the DSquared2 Autumn/Winter 2010 menswear show in Milan featured Bill Kaulitz descending from the ceiling in a caged elevator à la Rocky Horror Picture Show, followed by a runway walk.[6] Bill Kaulitz opened and closed the Dsquared2 Autumn/Winter 2010 menswear show in Milan.[7]

Their designs have been worn by Britney Spears,[8] Madonna,[2] Tokio Hotel's lead singer Bill Kaulitz, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Ricky Martin, Nicolas Cage, and Lenny Kravitz.[9] In 2000–01, Madonna commissioned them to design over 150 pieces for her Drowned World Tour 2001 and "Don't Tell Me" music video.[2] DSquared2's design was also featured in Britney Spears 2009 world tour The Circus Starring Britney Spears and Tokio Hotel's Welcome to Humanoid City tour.

They have been featured on America's Next Top Model[2] and they appeared in the music video for Fergie's "Clumsy"[10] and The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling".

In 2006, the brothers were selected to design the new official uniforms for football team Juventus.[2] In March 2008, the Catens signed an agreement to design sunglasses with Marcolin, an Italian sunglasses and spectacle manufacturer.[4]

In 2013, the Dsquared2 brand had a brand turnover of about €200 million.[11]

DSquared2 stores & pubs

In June 2007, the first DSquared2 flagship was opened in Milan's fashion district. Stores have also opened in St. Moritz, Athens, Mykonos, Capri, Istanbul, Kiev, Cannes, Singapore, Paris, Nicosia and Hong Kong.[12] In March 2015, DSquared opened their first flagship store in London. This is the first stage of their major store redesign programme that will continue into the US at the end of 2015.[13] They also own the famous Milanese rooftop terrace with pool "Ceresio 7".

Awards

The Catens were awarded the 2003 GQ Men of the Year Breakout Design Award. In 2006, they received the Golden Needle Award.[2]

On June 16, 2009, it was announced that the duo would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009.[14]

Radio and television

The Caten brothers host their own radio program called Dean and Dan on Air: Style in Stereo. The show began airing on Sirius XM satellite radio’s BPM channel and features a variety of music (including soundtracks from select DSquared2 runway shows), along with celebrity interviews, fashion and political discussions. The Caten brothers co-hosted and judged Launch My Line, a competition reality show on Bravo, which began airing in December 2009.

Controversy

DSquared garnered considerable controversy following the unveiling of its "DSquaw" line at the 2015 Milan Fashion Week. Critics and commentators expressed outrage at the fashion studio's use of the term "Squaw"–a word which carries strongly racist connotations as a derogatory term for North American indigenous women–in Twitter hashtags and marketing promoting the line. All instances of "DSquaw" were later taken down from official DSquared media and marketing channels. Critics furthermore pointed to the appropriation of Inuu and American indigenous decorations and attire in the fashion line itself, calling it a "misappropriation". [15] "culturally insensitive,"[16] and a "glamorization of colonization".[17] The DSquared website described the women's line as: "The enchantment of Canadian Indian tribes. The confident attitude of the British aristocracy. In a captivating play on contrasts: an ode to America's native tribes meets the noble spirit of Old Europe."[17]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.modernfeed.com/show/PORTS_1961_FASHION/
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fashion Designers: DSquared2/Dean and Dan Caten". fashiontv. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  3. 1 2 "DSquared2". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  4. 1 2 Deeny, Godfrey. "DSquared2 Sign Eyewear License with Marcolin". Fashion Wire Daily. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  5. ↑ Phelps, Nicole. "Runway Review: DSquared2". Style.com. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  6. ↑ Jetty. "Milan Catwalk Fashion Show fw2010: D Squared2 & Tokio Hotel". teampeterstigter.com. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  7. ↑ http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/twin-power-backstage-at-dsquared-2418521?justin=2418521
  8. ↑ "DSquared Goes To The Circus". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  9. ↑ "DSquared2 by Dean and Dan Caten". fashionwindows.com, Inc. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  10. ↑ "Clumsy with the Catens". Hollywoodlife.net. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  11. ↑ "Case Study: DSQUARED2". Bocconi. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "DSquared2: Stores". DSquared2. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  13. ↑ "DSquared Open New London Flagship Store.". Men Magazine. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  14. ↑ "The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame presented by Daria Werbowy who also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  15. ↑ "Canadian designers slammed online for 'Dsquaw' fashion line". CTV News. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  16. ↑ "Canadian fashion team's 'Dsquaw' line criticized for cultural insensitivity". Edmonton Post. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  17. 1 2 "Dsquared2 under fire for #Dsquaw women's fashion collection". CBC News. Retrieved 2015-03-04.

External links


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