Dsquared²: How Two Brothers From Toronto Built a Milan Fashion House — And What to Check Before You Buy

Here's something that might surprise you: Dsquared² is the single largest brand in the entire Aulæ catalog — bigger than Michael Kors, bigger than Prada. It's also one of the more unlikely luxury success stories in Milan, built by two identical twins who grew up nowhere near Italian fashion at all.

From Toronto to Milan

Dean and Dan Caten were born in Toronto and studied briefly at Parsons in New York before returning to Canada to work as junior designers. It wasn't until they moved to Milan in the early 1990s — taking design jobs at Versace and Diesel to learn the industry from the inside — that the pieces came together. With financial backing from Diesel founder Renzo Rosso, they launched their own label in the mid-1990s.

What made Dsquared² distinctive from day one was the mix: Italian tailoring precision, filtered through an American denim-and-streetwear attitude. It's part of why the brand became known for bold, maximalist collections that don't try to whisper. In 2025, the label celebrated over three decades in business — still led by the same two founders.

What You Will Find at Aulæ

Dsquared² has one of the widest and deepest ranges in our catalog — denim, ready-to-wear, footwear, and accessories, sourced through our verified European supplier network and checked against our standard authentication process before going online.

Browse the current Dsquared² selection at Aulæ →
aulae.shop/collections/dsquared2

What to Check Before You Buy

Because denim is such a core part of the brand's identity, a few checks here are specific to that category.

Denim stitching and wash consistency. Genuine pieces show even contrast stitching with no loose threads, and a wash treatment that's consistent across the whole garment — patchy or uneven fading is a common replica shortcut.

The leather patch. Most Dsquared² denim carries a leather or leather-effect patch on the back waistband, cleanly embossed with the brand logo. Shallow, blurry, or slightly misaligned embossing is a reliable warning sign.

Rivets and hardware. Buttons and rivets should carry crisp, correctly proportioned branding, with a consistent metal finish and real weight to them.

The woven label. Inside the garment, the label should be cleanly woven with precise, evenly spaced lettering — not printed or glued.

Sizing and fit consistency. Dsquared² runs true to a specific, fairly consistent fit across seasons. Pieces that feel noticeably off from the brand's usual proportions are worth a second look.

It's worth knowing that this level of care isn't excessive — counterfeit clothing costs the legitimate EU fashion industry close to €12 billion a year in lost sales, and denim-heavy, logo-driven brands like this one are a frequent target.

The Price Reality

Dsquared² is sold through major multi-brand retailers and has an established outlet presence, so genuine discounted stock is well supplied through legitimate channels.

A realistic outlet discount sits between 30% and 50% off current retail. At Aulæ, every price reflects real sourcing through our European network — if you want to know more about a specific piece, ask us.

See what is currently available →
aulae.shop/collections/dsquared2