November is anti-bullying month and last night, at the House of Lords, royalty, celebrity and fashion came together to highlight a growing problem. Bullying has always existed, but the proliferation of online communications has made it all too easy for young people to be targeted. "Be Cool Be Nice" is a charitable foundation set up to tackle online bullying and support victims. Alongside Princess Beatrice, who hosted the event, DSquared2 designers Dean and Dan Caten also attended.
The Canadian twins' exuberant designs and large-scale fashion shows have built a thriving €200m business, but life wasn't always comfortable for Dean and Dan Caten. Born in Toronto in 1964, the identical twin brothers, the youngest of eight siblings, were targeted for being different. "As twin boys and being from an immigrant family growing up in a suburb outside of Toronto, we were bullied," they say. "When we were in school we weren’t the typical adolescent boys and had different interests and were bullied for that."
Unlike many victims, who go through it alone, the pair could turn to each other for support. "Having one another has always been a blessing, our bond has always been our strongest weapon," they say. Even today they are inseparable, sharing a large house in London and building a hugely successful international fashion business together.
Fashion, where difference is often celebrated as an asset, offered them a safe place. "Fashion has always been an outlet for our self-expression. We used it as a tool to create a material artifact of our feelings and ideas. It truly gave us a voice and helped us in finding a sense of belonging. Fashion has always reassured us and made us feel protected. Doing what you love gives you more self-confidence."
They've designed a "Be Cool Be Nice" fashion range to raise money and awareness and encourage people to think, before they comment online. "'Be Cool Be Nice' is a cause everyone can stand behind. If we did, it could change the world. It’s a matter of approaching everyone with the right attitude." But whilst clothes can help give confidence they can't do it all, explain the designers. "The most important thing is the confidence you have in yourself and the courage to be yourself."
To anyone who is experiencing bullying they say, "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."
The Canadian twins' exuberant designs and large-scale fashion shows have built a thriving €200m business, but life wasn't always comfortable for Dean and Dan Caten. Born in Toronto in 1964, the identical twin brothers, the youngest of eight siblings, were targeted for being different. "As twin boys and being from an immigrant family growing up in a suburb outside of Toronto, we were bullied," they say. "When we were in school we weren’t the typical adolescent boys and had different interests and were bullied for that."
Unlike many victims, who go through it alone, the pair could turn to each other for support. "Having one another has always been a blessing, our bond has always been our strongest weapon," they say. Even today they are inseparable, sharing a large house in London and building a hugely successful international fashion business together.
They've designed a "Be Cool Be Nice" fashion range to raise money and awareness and encourage people to think, before they comment online. "'Be Cool Be Nice' is a cause everyone can stand behind. If we did, it could change the world. It’s a matter of approaching everyone with the right attitude." But whilst clothes can help give confidence they can't do it all, explain the designers. "The most important thing is the confidence you have in yourself and the courage to be yourself."
To anyone who is experiencing bullying they say, "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."
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