On March 29, Canadian twin designers Dean Caten and Dan Caten, who lead the fashion brand Dsquared2, announced the immediate termination of the brand’s long-standing licensing agreement with Staff International, its long-time production and distribution partner. The contract, originally set to expire in 2027, was ended prematurely in a surprising move.
In an official statement, the brand declared: “Dsquared2 Group announces the immediate termination of its licensing agreement with Staff International S.p.A. Consequently, the Group will assume direct control over the production and distribution of its Ready-to-Wear collections.”
The transition is expected to take effect with the Pre-Spring/Summer 2026 collection, as the brand moves toward establishing its own independent production and sales structure.
In response, Staff International quickly and firmly opposed the move. Within just six hours of the announcement, the company filed a lawsuit with the Court of Milan, seeking the full execution of the licensing agreement. The lawsuit targets Grascoe Holdings Limited, Dsquared2’s holding company; Dsquared2 Trademarks Limited; and the designers Dean and Dan Caten personally.
In a strongly worded statement, Staff International said:
“Staff International reiterates its conviction that the license agreement is fully effective and confirms its intention to fully execute it until its natural expiry. Therefore, the company firmly rejects any possibility of early termination of the contractual relationship, and believes that legal conditions for early termination do not exist.”
The company further stated: “Staff International will continue to act with the utmost transparency and determination to protect its rights, honour its contractual commitments and safeguard its reputation, and reserves the right to take any further action.”
The partnership between Dsquared2 and Staff International began in 2002, and was instrumental in propelling the brand into the global fashion spotlight. For over two decades, Staff International oversaw the development, production, and omnichannel distribution of Dsquared2’s collections. The company is a core member of the OTB Group, led by prominent Italian fashion entrepreneur Renzo Rosso, and also manufactures for brands such as Maison Margiela, Marni, Jil Sander, and Diesel.
Notably, Dsquared2 celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year with a grand anniversary show during Milan Fashion Week in February. The termination of the licensing agreement not only marks a turning point in the brand’s operational independence, but also underscores broader shifts taking place in the structure of the global fashion industry.
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