“There are always highs and lows, but I think if you believe in something and do it with love, then it doesn´t lose its magic.”

While enjoying the cool, professional and  positive atmosphere at the lookbook shooting of the latest Sopopular collection “Wasteland” with photograper Sabrina Theissen, stylist Isabelle Thiry and model Anatol@ IZAIO, I had a little chat with Daniel Blechman, the likeable designer behind the rad Berlin based label Sopopular. Their collection can soon be seen at the Berlin Fashion Week, and they will also have a Pop-Up-Store #SOPOPUP for 4 weeks starting at the 04.7.14 with an opening party and free drinks. And not enough of good news – we also raffle 1 x 2 cards for the SOPOPULAR Runway Show on the 10th of July. Just send an email to contact@c-heads.com with subject SOPOPUAR until the 30th of June and maybe see ya there!

Hey Daniel, what have been the inspiration to this year´s collection?

My inspiration has always been the two stages in my life: Berlin and London. This time the collection is called Wasteland. On this occasion I orientated myself towards materials such as marble, wood; on rough things. Our collections are always straightforward; I just love military influences or adding some street wear elements. Our color palette is mainly the same as well; black and grey, blue/ white, sometimes black/ grey/ green but the main colours are always black and grey.

Is that coz it´s easier to merchandise the clothes especially on the German market? Or also coz this is your personal preference?

Both. I am not a loud person. There are designers that like to do that, and that is great too. But Sopopular has just developed in that way and that is our philosophy. The quality and wearability of the colletion are really important to me.

So the collection is called Wasteland, is that something referring to Berlin, for its undeveloped areas?

Also. But it´s also about something like scorched earth. At the end lots of new topics have come up, such as where do you produce and under what circumstances. I think so many have something negative to say about Berlin. Instead of complaining all the time, you should make it better. I think Berlin has some great potential and I think we should make use of it, instead of talking it down.

In the last colletion the 90s played an important role, also music wise it inspired you. What about this time?

Well, this time ( and for quite some time already) I got inspired by Jared Leto.

Cool, and he certainly looks good and has a great sense of style…

Yeah, we also managed to give him some Sopopular clothes; I met him here in Berlin recently.

Awesome! Ok so … how do you keep up your motivation and the magic for your work?

If you do something with love, then it is not so difficult. There are always highs and lows, but I think if you believe in something and do it with love, then it doesn´t lose its magic.

And what have been your highs and lows in the past years?

The lowest low is when you separate from your business partner or investor. The highlight is that since about a year the press is reacting in such a super positive way towards us.

True, you also receive a lot of press attention from London right now..

Yes exactly. And London is also so important to me.

What besides your label is important to you?

My family and friends. I love fashion, but not 24 hours a day. Most of my friends are not from the fashion business and that is good. When I come home I want to switch off. Of course your mind is still sometimes dealing with stuff about your label, because you are always involved in everything, but when I am home with friends or going for dinner I don’t want to talk about fashion.

Does that mean that you also don´t go to any other fashion shows yourself, for example at the upcoming Berlin Fashion Week?

No not at all. Well, this time I am going to a show of a friend. Marina Hoermanseder. But otherwise not really. Not coz I dont want to, or don´t like the designers, but you are involved so much into your own things, that you hardly have time.

Well, so that is a good point to say now, thanks a lot for your time and the interview and let´s go back to the shooting.

Thank you!

Interview by Sigrun Guggenberger

All images by Stefan Dotter

SOPOPULAR Pop-Up-Store – #SOPOPUP
4 weeks Pop-Up-Store
Opening: Freitag, 04.07.14 | 17:00 – 20:00 Uhr
Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 16 | Berlin-Mitte
Free Drinks