Page 67 - Real Style Winter 2016 / 2017

With 21 years of runway ex- perience, it’s no wonder identical twins Dean and Dan Caten have culled such an impressive ce- lebrity fan base. From
their signature dis-
tressed denim to fur- trimmed outerwear and sharp blazers, the Canadian
brothers have been combining their creative skills for more than two decades, most notably with their much-loved label DSquared2.
The twins co-founded their Milan-based label in 1995, after relocating to the glamorous Italian fashion capital from New York City. With successful menswear and womenswear lines under their stylish leather belts, the pair is known for combining Italian tailoring with a Canadian sensibility.
“All of our favourite pieces are a combination of both. There is so much inspiration from all things Canadian, everything from outerwear to colourways and our iconic maple leaf itself,” says Dean.
Although they are proudly Canadian, the design talents are well known around the globe and have lived in three of the world’s top fashion capitals (New York, Milan, London). Like many sartorial success stories, the Catens’ tale has humble beginnings.
Born Dean and Dan Catenacci in 1964, the twins were raised in the Willowdale area of Toronto. As the two youngest children in a family of nine siblings, the Catens attribute a lot of their present day success to the hard-working nature of their Italian parents.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without all their life les- sons,” says Dean of their parents, who instilled a strong work ethic in the brothers that would later come in handy for keeping up with—and leading—the relentless, fast-paced world of fashion.
The aspiring designers moved to New York City from Toronto to train at Parsons School of Design in 1983, moving to the Big Ap- ple at just 19, starry-eyed and destined for runway success.
“We always felt like we had something to say and we had a knack for putting out ts together. It’s something that felt very natural and effortless—so much so that I’d say it was like a calling. It’s been 20 years now and we’re grateful to still be doing what we love,” they say, re ecting on their journey.
The brothers’ formal education at Parsons was short-lived, however. They dropped out of their studies after one semester and began design- ing together for Canadian fashion house Ports International. After stints with Versace and Diesel, the brothers launched their menswear label in 1995. In 2003, they of cially expanded to womenswear.
“Our collections were always about a certain kind of attitude and con dence and we didn’t want to have that limited to the boys,” Dan explains.
Photos, Left: dean and dan caten, right: startraks, dean and dan caten, canada’s WaLk of fame and david Lee, kevin mazur, monica feudi
Clockwise, from top left: Spring/ Summer 2017, Dean and Dan Caten receive their Canada’s Walk of Fame star, ICONS Collection, Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour and Freida Pinto wearing DSquared2.
67