The Company Claims the Brand Is Terminating the Contract Early Without Legal Grounds
Staff International has announced that it will sue Dsquared2 for what it claims is a breach of contract after the brand announced the termination of its licensing agreement with the company this weekend.
The fashion brand founded by Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten in 1995 abruptly ended its long-standing licensing agreement with Staff International, the production and distribution company under Diesel-owner OTB. This termination comes ahead of the scheduled 2027 expiry date, signaling a significant shift as the brand moves to take direct control over its production and distribution, starting with the pre-collection for Spring 2026.
“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. This transition takes effect immediately and will commence with the upcoming pre-collection spring-summer 2026 sales campaign,” stated Dsquared2 from Dublin, Ireland, where its parent company is registered.
However, the termination has not been accepted quietly by Staff International, which has been partnered with Dsquared2 since 2000. Staff International has initiated legal proceedings to contest the termination, filing a lawsuit in the Court of Milan against Dsquared2 and its associated entities, including the Caten brothers themselves.
“Staff International reiterates its conviction that the lisence agreement is fully effective and confirms its intention to fully execute it until its natural expiry,” the company asserted via a statement. “The company firmly rejects any possibility of early termination of the contractual relationship, and believes that legal conditions for early termination do not exist.”