FOR THEIR SS20 Dsquared2 show, creative duo Dean and Dan Caten brought a bit of Hong Kong to the Milan Catwalk. Set on a flaming red runway, Bruce Lee iconography and 1970s Kung-Fu film motifs were showcased through graphic t-shirts with prints of the star’s film posters, red and orange floral patterns, and tiger-striped two-piece sets.
Perhaps more subtly, Lee’s signature style shows its influences with looks that combine style and sport. From silky black boxer shorts paired with loosely tailored chiffon shirts to white mesh vests and boxers peaking out from trousers, the actor’s inspiration can be seen even in the smallest of details.
As a contrast to the boxy shapes of the line’s bomber jackets and coats, the collection featured several cinched corset-inspired pieces that were showcased on both the men and women. Further drawing on the energy of the time, these pieces’s flashy gold materials allude to the slightly camp glossiness of the 1970s Kung Fu film industry.
References to Bruce Lee and the fantasy of the Kung Fu film, though playful, do not come across as gimicky of a cultural heritage, proven by the tasteful designs and the designers’s clear respect for the influential actor. The collection was further made in collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation, an NGO providing social assistance for underprivileged families in honour and memory of the late star’s life and philosophy.
by Mirabella Shahidullah