Forget what’s “trendy” — Dsquared2’s always been a brand that’s championed diversity. From clashing prints to playful mixes of masculine-feminine, founders Dean and Dan Caten were challengers of social acceptability long before it became the hip thing to do. Those who felt excluded by the traditional decadence of mens and womenswear could find solace in Dsquared’s soiree of clothing, so it’s no surprise it’s launching a capsule collection in line with “Be Cool Be Nice,” a song, charity organisation, social media campaign and very soon a digital book advocating anti-bullying.
There’s never a better time to stand up for such a cause than now, and in an interview with Vogue UK about their role as designers, it’s clear this issue is dear and close to the Catens: “It truly gave us a voice and helped us in finding a sense of belonging.” A sense of belonging is exactly what many who buy into fashion crave for, and with the Catens’ latest “Be Cool Be Nice” capsule collection, this notion is thoroughly explored.
Be Cool Be Nice baseball cap $220, Be Cool Be Nice print sweatshirt $515, Be Cool Be Nice tote bag $445 on Farfetch
It’s a line of slogan activewear and its accessories with the phrase “Be Cool Be Nice,” which especially in the online community stands for something much deeper than its semantics. Gerry DeVeaux, a songwriter and music producer who’s worked for pop stars like Lenny Kravitz and Kylie Minogue created a song of the same name in support of his daughter’s battle with eating disorders and cyberbullying. The song grew bigger than DeVeaux himself into a giant social media campaign with teen role models like Kylie Jenner and Kaia Gerber fronting the movement as endorsers.
When you participate in #bcbn, you’re standing up for social media etiquette which many seem to disregard because of the anonymity of the platform. Additionally, of Dsquared2’s proceeds from its #D2BECOOLBENICE capsule collection will go to the “Be Cool Be Nice” foundation to further the cause of curbing cyberbullying. And if you need a boost from being victimised by a hate crime, take it from the Catens: “You are not alone! You are perfect the way you are. It is important to disengage and ignore bullies. Being strong and brave to be who you are is your biggest asset.”
Dsquared’s “Be Cool Be Nice” capsule collection will be available at Dsquared’s flagship and selected consignment stores end November 2017.
Header image: Wikipedia
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