Hong Kong-themed fashion launch as two million protested – fortuitous or unfortunate?

On the day Hongkongers staged their biggest ever protest march, over extradition, a continent away a fashion label presented a homage to the city

Although the launch by DSquared of Bruce Lee-themed T-shirts – likely to sell for upwards of US$300 – was coincidental, it did feel a bit off

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A model wears a look from the Dsquared2 men's spring/summer 2020 collection, including a Hong Kong-themed T-shirt, unveiled during Milan fashion week on the same day that up to two million Hongkongers marched in protest. Photo: AP

Published: 2:30pm, 18 Jun 2019Updated: 8:10am, 19 Jun 2019

On June 16, an estimated two million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to call for the resignation of the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, over proposed law changes that would allow extradition to China and her government’s handling of earlier protests about the issue.

While this was unfolding, a continent away in Milan, Canadian twin fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten, founders of fashion label DSquared2, launched their spring/summer 2020 collection as part of men’s fashion week in the Italian city. By coincidence, this included a homage to Hong Kong and one of its most famous sons, legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee.

DSquared2 T-shirts for men and women were printed with Bruce Lee movie posters and the designers themselves took their post-show bow on Sunday clad in T-shirts emblazoned with a quote from one of Lee’s films: “Don’t think, feel.”

The range was a (mostly) tasteful mishmash of East-meets-West influences referencing Hong Kong and East Asia, from clichés such as tiger prints to Asian floral motifs on silk shirts and dresses.

DSquared2 is far from the first fashion brand to be inspired by Asia, but the timing of this collection’s launch, which was a pure coincidence, felt a bit off.