Between curated brand building, selective investments and a clear cultural stance, Supermarque has established itself as a platform that thinks about fashion beyond the product. At the center is an ecosystem of our own products, collaborations and investments – including the Berlin label Haderlump, in which Marc Sasserath invested through his Sasserath 1871 portfolio.
At the same time, Supermarque is expanding its brand world through formats that bring community and discourse together. This is particularly visible in the live podcast format “Le Black Sofa”.
In the interview, Marc Sasserath talks about his role as an investor and curator, the decision to choose Haderlump Berlin, the balancing act between growth and identity and the question of how independent labels can grow sustainably in an increasingly complex market environment without losing their stance.
Mr. Sasserath, Supermarque sees itself as a curated store and brand ecosystem. How do you position the brand and what goals are you currently pursuing?
Supermarque has positioned itself very well and we have built a great community. With “Le Black Sofa” we have created a unique content format for the community that not only lives in Berlin, but has also been a guest in Paris, Zurich and Mönchengladbach over the last year.
In 2026 the concept will travel to New York and Dubai. The brand is the platform for what we do: our own Supermarque products like the iconic Outama, Supermarque collaborations like with designer Ina Seifart or leather artist Philipp Bree, but also the brands that are close to us and in which we are invested. And then, as a good truffle pig, we always have a few great Supermarque finds. In 2026 there will be a few nice new products of our own.
What role does physical space play for your brand?
We opened the store in November 2024 and are actually in a special location in Berlin that is currently developing great. We will definitely do more pop-ups and I would like to have a traveling Supermarque store. And then of course I dream of a store in Paris or Marseille…
So they continue to rely on brick-and-mortar retail, even though many young labels today are growing primarily digitally. Why is physical presence so crucial for you?
Especially in times of artificial intelligence, multi-sensory brand experiences are becoming increasingly important, especially for brands with strong communities such as Haderlump and Supermarque. Ideally, this will then have an impact on digital sales. Both work together in a complementary way: physical for the experience and the multisensory experience, digital for reach and scaling.
With Supermarque you consciously move between curatorial demands and entrepreneurial growth. How do you manage to think long-term and avoid short-term pressure to scale?
This is one of the most important questions: Good brands grow organically and not hastily. Greed is not a good guide and you quickly betray your own identity.
What role does the city of Berlin play in your work, both creatively and entrepreneurially?
Berlin has always been and continues to be one of the global metropolises for style, creativity and entrepreneurship – so it’s not a bad place.
Speaking of Berlin, you also invested in the Haderlump label based there some time ago. What attracted you to it?
I was instantly in love. I like the label, the style, the whole experience they offer the community and especially the founders and the team. So it became clear very quickly that I had to invest.
How would you characterize Haderlump today and where do you see the brand in the next five years?
For me, Haderlump is the prototype of the Berlin label. Made in Berlin with a high level of tailoring and responsibility. The brand is actually more than just fashion today. If Haderlump grows gently and organically further into the world, everything will be achieved in the next five years.
Creative and operational management continues to lie with the founding duo. How do you define your role without affecting this independence?
I believe I can give advice, open doors and help the brand grow smoothly and organically. And sometimes maybe even give a little support.
In addition to Haderlump, you have built up a broad investment portfolio with Sasserath 1871. What criteria do you use to select investments and how do you understand your role as an investor?
We invest in “Impact and Happiness”. In other words, in companies that bring a little happiness into life and do so as sustainably as possible. The founders are always very important to me. And they have to have a monopoly on something that can be grown smoothly at the same time.
However, joy in times of geopolitical tensions, ecological challenges and technological change is not always easy, is it? What developments do you currently see for independent labels and the fashion industry as a whole?
I believe that today more than ever it is about the responsible development of one’s own identity and the sensitive and responsible approach to our context and the world in which we live. If you want to give a little bit of happiness today, it should cause as little damage as possible.