They've designed for stars and now Canadian fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten got one of their own on Canada's Walk of Fame.
"It's a huge honour for us and we're thrilled and happy that our country recognizes us," says Dean Caten. "We are waving our Canadian flag here (in Europe). Canada is our home and it's who we are."
The identical twins, who design for their own DSquared2 label, accepted their star on the 12th anniversary of the walk last night alongside fellow inductees including Blue Rodeo, Tom Cochrane, Howie Mandel and Kim Cattrall.
The duo are being recognized for their contribution to the world of style, but the permanent stars aims to educate, inform and inspire by spotlighting Canadian innovation and achievement in diverse fields from sports to science.
The youngest of nine children, Dean and Dan were born and raised in Toronto, by an Italian father and British mother. Twenty-six years later, their label is setting trends from Italy, where the company is based, and London, England, where the designers now live.
Dean Caten believes the combination of being Canadian and working between Italy and England gives their designs a distinct flavour.
"We remember the things we grew up on, and run them through the Italian mill and come out with something that is modern and unique to us.
CHANGING FASHIONS
"Fashion is ever changing and you have to stay with it. We change as people. We're not 20 years old anymore and we mature as our collection matures."
A huge inspiration for the designers is the goddess of reinvention, Madonna.
"She's done it ... A lot of people can get to the top, but it is staying on top that's even harder ... Why has she been No. 1 for so long? Because she keeps up with the times."
Another pop diva, Britney Spears, asked them to create costumes for her Circus tour. "Britney was easy to work with. She said 'just make me look sexy!' "
They also have a new convert, Fergie of the R&B music group Black-Eyed Peas. "She is adorable. We've become good friends. We actually did a cameo in their video for the song I Got a Feeling."
So how does DSquared2 lure and retain the young, affluential set? "Our look is accidentally chic, uncontrived cool ... We're our own customers, we believe in what we do, we design for ourselves, and, I think, whenever you do anything and it comes from your heart, you totally believe in it, you're going to have success."
For this fall's collection, DSquared2 looked to the young Hollywood starlets while being mindful of the current, economic recession.
"We're taking the situation of the world right now ... and we're saying, fine, you can wear your old jeans, something old and new, mixing all the contrasts like a tuxedo jacket with ripped jeans. That's making it cool, modern and fresh for today."
After the unveiling, they're off to the U.S. to launch a line of sunglasses and premiere their reality TV show, Launch My Line.
