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i-Con dean and dan caten TEXT ANDERS CHRISTIAN MADSEN PHOTOGRAPHY HARRY CARR Double the trouble and double the fun, that’s what you get with Dean and Dan Caten. The youngest of nine siblings, identical twins Dean (the naughty one) and Dan (the sensible one) do everything together: they work together, they play together, they even sleep in the same bed. It’s been twelve years since the Canadian-born duo founded fashion label Dsquared2, although they’ve been dreaming of clothes for a lot longer. Praised for their refined tailoring and irreverent wit (for their Glastonbury-inspired spring/summer 12 collection they sent models down a runway covered in 4 inches of mud), Dsquared2 was originally conceived as a luxury denim label. Fast forward to today and both their menswear and womenswear collections are firm fixtures at Milan Fashion Week, while their fragrances, sunglasses and leather accessories are coveted by fans the world over. We caught up with the pair to about twin love, true love, and why, when it come down to it, blood really is thicker than water.
What is love?
very young, we loved creating clothes for our sisters, help them with their fashion choices,
Well, love is everything and something personal... We mean, there is no single definition! It
look at our mum and imagine how we would have dressed her. We just wanted to express
relates to the way you are and the way you live. It can make feel you good, and at the same
ourselves and our creativity with fabrics and colours. Just thinking about fashion made us
time, make you feel down. But it’s definitely something that lets you know you’re alive!
excited. Because of the degree to which we love fashion, it was never a difficult decision –
How would you define brotherly love?
it was totally natural.
Just look at us... brotherly love is unconditional! It’s something you cannot live without.
Why do you love fashion?
How is twin love different from other loves?
We love fashion because we love the way it makes us feel happy and entertained!
Twin love is definitely more visceral. We complete and need each other. It’s a natural love
Is it possible to love clothes?
and you naturally think about the other and his needs. You are like one person.
Sure, we love them! Clothes represent our personality, and to mix that up is fun. Each day
What’s the secret to a good working relationship with a family
you can be different and you can match your clothes according your mood.
member?
Are you currently in love?
We know each other deeply and listen to each other. This enables us to give one another
Yes...
space and allows us to make choices that satisfy us both. Actually, we have a good
How do you know when you’re loved?
personal balance, and the fact that we are twins – and thus so connected – helps things
You just know it. It concerns how you feel and think about someone. You want to stay with
happen more easily. Being twins is the secret!
him, you smile when you think about him, you desire to always stay with him. As people
Do you always have the same taste?
say, you just feel butterflies in your stomach, that’s the way you know you’re in love with
Basically, yes. Particularly when it concerns fashion issues!
someone!
When did you know you loved fashion?
@Dsquared2
Not to be predictable, but to be honest, we have always known. You see, when we were
dsquared2.com
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