The Power of Brand: Supreme - designdough (2024)

The businesses in question have taken their identities and, whether through superior judgement or just plain luck (we’ll be trying to figure out which as we go along), have managed to turn their brands into something closer to a religion.

We start this new blog series with an analysis one of the most powerful streetwear brands in the world today, and the company that has turned hype and implied exclusivity into an art form.

Supreme; the brand synonymous with the term ‘hypebeast’ (slang for a person obsessed with fashion brand hype to the point that, regardless of their finances or whether they even LIKE the product, will queue up for days in order to catch the latest drop) is as controversial as it is popular. Started in Manhattan in 1994 by British businessman, James Jebbia, Supreme was created as an amalgamation of Jebbia’s experience of working within the retail fashion industry, specifically with Shawn Stüssy of Stüssy Inc. Having bought his first location for $12,000 and named the shop ‘Supreme’ (Jebbia never meant for Supreme to become a brand within its own right), Jebbia set about hiring local skateboarders to man the shop and soon, with the popularity of skating rising, the store became a popular hangout for local kids. Supreme started to become synonymous with high quality streetwear served with a co*cky, nihilistic attitude. Yet this approach did little to turn people away, in fact Jebbia credits the initial growth in popularity of the brand to his unpolished, raw, yet undoubtedly cool and relatable employees – it was these people that, without instruction or coaching, set the entire culture for the Supreme brand for years to come.

A key theme for Supreme is appropriation (or mis-appropriation depending on your standpoint), yet it is through this implied ‘copying’ of pop-culture iconography (such as Louis Vuitton, The New Yorker, Coca Cola and even Jack Daniels) that the brand has emerged as an anarchistic icon within its own right; it’s a subtle fu*ck you to consumerism and corporations, yet Supreme now ironically nestles (quite comfortably) in the company of these huge brands, as its net worth now rests in the billions. It’s an interesting paradox, and one that shouldn’t work; the brand should be seen as hypocritical and mercenary for this very reason, yet this only adds to the appeal. The brand doesn’t try to hide this side of itself, and this is what’s proved so popular; the honesty and the downright cheek.

For more examples of Supreme’s appropriation – check out Supreme Copies on Instagram.

The brand itself has never been able to be trademarked and so this has left it open to being copied and appropriated, although the history of the brand visual is rooted in plagiarism. American Conceptual artist, Barbara Kruger was first responsible for creating artworks featuring the bold Futura Heavy Oblique typeface on stark red backgrounds that were often overlayed onto black and white photographs. This iconic style was the vessel for Kruger’s commentary on consumerism, feminism and human autonomy and two of her most famous works are arguably ‘I Shop Therefore I Am’ (1987) and ‘Your Body Is A Battleground’ (1989). It’s the juxtaposition between Kruger’s original narrative and the materialistic nature of the Supreme brand that is so interesting.

The Power of Brand: Supreme - designdough (1)

In fact, Kruger has recently just teamed up with skate brand Volcom as part of the 2017 Performa Performance Art biennial, opening up a pop-up store selling limited edition clothes and skate decks, charging $5 to even enter the space. This saw thousands of people queuing for the pleasure. Sound familiar? According to Kruger this was in no way influenced by Supreme or her past dealings with them and ‘the drop’ was instead a piece of performance art in its own right.

Supreme ‘drops’ are nothing short of legendary. Every Thursday (Saturday in Japan) of the season sees a new batch of products released, with thousands of people queuing up to enter not only physical Supreme stores, but online ones too. The drops have been so in demand that various stores have now set up ticketing systems that give consumers a dedicated time slot to enter the store, and once inside they only have 15 minutes to browse and make their purchase.

So why the hype? Huge celebrity endorsem*nts have helped, with a particular focus on musicians and hip-hop culture, but we can’t forget the huge resale market for Supreme products too, which has led to communities of young brand followers setting up their own businesses based on acquiring and reselling Supreme items on eBay. One of the items with the highest resale value today is the Fall/Winter 2011 Supreme x The North Face Nuptse Jacket, which originally retailed for circa $368 but was later resold for $4500, mainly due to Drake wearing it in his video for ‘the motto’. A simple eBay search reveals the same jacket with starting bids of $3000, so it shows demand is still high 7 years on.

Another facet to the hypebeast mentality could well be how limited the Supreme drops actually are – the actual number of units of an item made per drop is a closely guarded secret, but with the most sought after items selling out online in under 10 seconds, the numbers can’t be that high. This lends itself to the ‘panic buying’ aspect of the brand; the ‘buy it before it’s too late’ mentality that sees people fighting in line or squaring up to the store’s security. Once an item drops, it is never released again and so unless you want to pay inflated resale prices, you better be quick.

For a brand that famously sold-out of a branded crowbar (oh, and let’s not forget the brick!) the power of the hype surrounding this company cannot be questioned, even if it does border on the ridiculous.

Further Reading

The Power of Brand: Supreme - designdough (2024)

FAQs

What is Supreme brand message? ›

Supreme is an American clothing and skateboarding lifestyle brand established in New York City in April 1994. The brand aims to appeal to youth culture in general as well as the skateboarding and hip hop scenes specifically. The company makes skateboards in addition to clothing and accessories.

What is Supremes mission statement? ›

Supreme Manufacturing, Inc. is committed to honoring God as a world class manufacturing and engineering company by providing a quality product at a competitive price. This goal is accomplished with the help of dedicated employees, experienced design professionals and customer input.

How was Supreme able to differentiate itself from other streetwear brands? ›

It can be traced back to a carefully crafted strategy that has capitalized on (1) the scarcity of its products, (2) the credibility of brand collaborations, (3) the growth of the resale market and the power of social media and (4) ever evolving fashion tastes. 1. Scarcity that heightens demand.

How to make a brand like Supreme? ›

4 tips to build a fanatical community like Supreme
  1. Always keep your audience in mind with everything you do.
  2. Know what your community stands for, and don't be afraid to say no.
  3. Be willing to experiment and try new things.
  4. Leverage the influencers in the industry to put your community on the map.

What is the key message of a brand? ›

A key message is a pillar of your brand's marketing and sales communication. It serves as a concise summary of the most important value your brand provides to its customers. Collectively your key messages should represent all of the most critical parts of what your brand provides.

What makes Supreme unique? ›

Supreme's appropriation of images is one of the keys to its popularity. Pop-cultural imagery and logos are copied and adapted in a way that makes the designs feel more like contemporary art or graffiti than a big fashion brand.

What are the four 4 main questions the mission statement asks? ›

Here are four essential questions your company's mission statement must answer:
  • What do we do?
  • How do we do it?
  • Whom do we do it for?
  • What value are we bringing?
Jan 10, 2013

What is the core value of Supreme? ›

Success - We drive success through operational excellence and innovative thinking. Integrity - We insist that integrity and ethics define our decisions and our actions. Sustainability - We are dedicated to protecting the environment and creating a sustainable future for communities where we operate.

Who is Supreme target audience? ›

The supreme has driven young people to pursue the trend of street fashion, and young people are likely to continue to influence and shape the future of luxury fashion. supreme has always been loyal to its own brand, providing customers with a unique model and maintaining its appeal, bringing success to its own brand.

What marketing strategy does Supreme use? ›

Barring a few poster campaigns and some collaborations with celebrities, Supreme doesn't advertise in any way. Instead, it relies on its legions of fans to evangelize on their behalf, spurred on by drops and collabs and the air of a closely guarded insiders club.

What gives brand distinct identity? ›

Brand identity is the visible elements of a brand, such as color, design, and logo that identify and distinguish the brand in consumers' minds. Consistent marketing and messaging lead to consistent brand identity and, therefore, consistent sales.

What are common elements used to create a Supreme brand identity? ›

If you want to know what cooks the recipe of Supreme's hype branding , it all boils down to four factors : Scarcity. Authenticity. Identity. Perception.

What are the 5 elements that make a strong brand? ›

But, unless you've carefully considered and defined ALL five of the key brand elements—position, promise, personality traits, story, and associations—you still have work to do.

What makes a brand a super brand? ›

According to Superbrands, the four pillars that underpin all the strongest brands are “trust, openness, vision, and respect and responsibility. Perhaps surprisingly, vision – which includes innovation, a strong leader and exceptional marketing – was ranked third in importance behind trust and openness.”

How do you make a brand unique? ›

How to build a brand
  1. Research your target audience and your competitors.
  2. Pick your focus and personality.
  3. Choose your business name.
  4. Write your slogan.
  5. Choose the look of your brand (colors and font).
  6. Design your brand logo.
  7. Apply your branding across your business.
Oct 29, 2022

What are the 3 importance of branding? ›

Beyond just a memorable logo, good branding increases the value of a company, provides employees with direction and motivation, and makes acquiring new customers easier.

What are the 3 main purposes of branding? ›

The 3 main goals of branding for a business are to influence people's associations and feelings about the brand, to create a distinct identity and to build loyalty over time.

Why do people like the brand Supreme? ›

The near impossibility to get the most desirable Supreme items is what leads fans to snap up anything they can get their hands on upon release, which in turn allows the brand to experiment with increasingly unconventional releases, strengthening their rebellious image.

Why is Supreme valuable? ›

Because there is money to be made, and all of Supreme's drops are produced in limited quantities. Take into consideration that it's literally the most hyped brand in the world, and the fact demand for Supreme totally outstrips supply, then you can probably get why resale prices can literally skyrocket.

How do you identify a Supreme? ›

On real Supreme pieces, the red stitching behind the white “Supreme” lettering should come in a tight diamond or criss-cross pattern. Identifiable horizontal or vertical stitching will comprise the red background on a fake bogo.

What are the 3 key things a mission statement should have? ›

Typically, a mission statement includes a basic description of the company, its purpose, and its goals.

What are the 5 parts of a mission statement? ›

Here are 5 essential elements of a good mission statement:
  • Element #1 Simplicity. Keep it simple. ...
  • Element #2 Captivating. Don't be boring. ...
  • Element #3 Measurable. You'll know if you're succeeding in your mission if you craft it in a way that allows you to measure the results. ...
  • Element #4 Relevancy. ...
  • Element #5 Longevity.
Oct 6, 2021

What are the five 5 tips for writing a great mission statement? ›

Tips for Creating an Effective Mission Statement
  • Do keep it short and concise. Sum up the company's mission in just a few sentences.
  • Don't write an essay. ...
  • Do think long-term. ...
  • Don't make it too limiting. ...
  • Do find out what your employees think of the mission statement. ...
  • Don't be afraid to change it.

What are core design values? ›

Design Values are the fundamental principals that define us and stay with us even when technology, context and the world changes. We are all different and we will approach design problems in our unique way — and that is how our design values come through.

What is the top 5 values? ›

What Are Some Common Values?
  • Loyalty.
  • Spirituality.
  • Humility.
  • Compassion.
  • Honesty.
  • Kindness.
  • Integrity.
  • Selflessness.

What is the Supreme good? ›

Aristotle defines the supreme good as an activity of the rational soul in accordance with virtue. Virtue for the Greeks is equivalent to excellence.

Who are Supremes competitors? ›

If you're obsessed with the statement streetwear from Supreme, you're going to want to check out these similar brands.
  • Vans. If you're looking for Supreme on an accessible and affordable budget, Vans should be your first stop. ...
  • Balenciaga. ...
  • Vetements. ...
  • Stussy. ...
  • Obey. ...
  • Off-White. ...
  • Nike. ...
  • adidas.
Apr 30, 2022

How does Supreme create hype? ›

Scarcity That Never Stops

If you know anything about Supreme, then it's all about their scarcity launches. Supreme is renowned for launching its product in lesser quantities and building the hype for the consumers to get their hands on Supreme. This scarcity tactic seemed to work for Supreme over the decades.

Who designs Supreme clothing? ›

James Jebbia (born July 22, 1963) is an American-British businessman, fashion designer and former child actor. He is known for being the founder of the skateboarding shop and clothing brand Supreme. New York City, U.S.

What is the most powerful marketing strategy? ›

If you are looking for the overall most effective marketing strategy for small business, content marketing is the winner. Content marketing encompasses blogs, videos, social media posts, podcasts, webinars, and more – basically, any type of content you can distribute online falls into this category.

What are the 7 designing marketing strategies? ›

The 7 Ps of Marketing

Once you've developed your marketing strategy, there is a "Seven P Formula" you should use to continually evaluate and reevaluate your business activities. These seven are: product, price, promotion, place, packaging, positioning and people.

What are the 4 main marketing strategies? ›

What are the 4Ps of marketing? (Marketing mix explained) The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion. They are an example of a “marketing mix,” or the combined tools and methodologies used by marketers to achieve their marketing objectives. The 4 Ps were first formally conceptualized in 1960 by E.

Why is brand identity so important? ›

A strong brand identity can make your customers perceive your products and services as higher quality. This empowers you to enjoy a price premium. Brand identity allows you to build loyal customer relationships and lift your bottom line.

What are brand values? ›

Brand values can be defined as the foundational beliefs that a company stands for. They refer to the “ideals” guiding the brand's actions, such as environmental protection, diversity, solidarity, or transparency.

What makes a brand different? ›

The best way to establish differentiation is to leverage one or more brand differentiators. A brand differentiator is a unique feature, aspect, and/or benefit of your product or service that sets you apart from competing brands.

What is the most important brand element? ›

1. Logo. Every brand needs a logo. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find a brand that doesn't have a logo, which arguably makes it the most important element of branding.

What are the 4 key elements of a brand? ›

These are the four main brand components that you will need to address when developing your brand strategy. A strong brand requires a strong brand identity, brand image, brand culture, and brand personality.

What are four 4 essentials of good brand name? ›

Characteristics to Consider When Choosing a Brand Name
  • Distinctive. In order to be memorable, stand out from the competition, and avoid confusion among your target audiences, a strong brand name must be distinct—especially within your industry. ...
  • Authentic. ...
  • Memorable. ...
  • Enduring. ...
  • Defensible.
Sep 19, 2018

What is an example of a brand message? ›

All successful companies have brand messaging that is clever, strategic, and relevant to their target audiences. Think Nike: “Just do it.” Or, Walmart: “Save money. Live better.” Smart, persuasive, and concise. Brand messaging encapsulates any and all communication of your company's core value proposition(s).

What does the Supreme logo represent? ›

The Supreme logo features the name of the company in bold, futura, oblique font surrounded by a bright red box. It's a simple design, yet the aggressive combination of the font and color scheme is one that broadcasts a message of rebellion and anti-authority that resonates with Supreme's customers.

Who is the target market for Supreme brand? ›

Supreme's target demographic is 16-35 year old males and “hasn't strayed much from male teenage skaters”(Williams, 2012). The brand began only targeting males but over time the consumer has developed and females are now purchasing from the brand due to the rise in female skate culture.

What should be the brand message of the product? ›

Brand messaging is the set of practices that define how a company will deliver its value proposition and communicate its business values. Based on the tone of voice, language, and core message, companies can define a specific way to convey their ideas to the public.

What are branding 3 examples? ›

Branding is the process of communicating a unique selling proposition, or differential, that sets a product or service apart from the competition. Examples of branding techniques include the use of logos, taglines, jingles or mascots.

What are the 3 messages your brand needs to communicate? ›

That means your brand message needs to do three things: 1) express a differentiated promise, 2) do so in ways that are relevant to the audiences it serves, and 3) do so memorably.

What is an example of good branding? ›

Apple. Apple is a textbook example of a strong brand. They're the first example Simon Sinek brings up in his Golden Circle framework, asking first why, then how and what. Apple builds beautiful, innovative computers that are different from anything else in the market.

What does the logo symbol represent? ›

A logo is a combination of text and visual imagery that serves two purposes. It tells people the name of the company and it creates a visual symbol that represents your business. Some logos have powerful symbolic association connected to people's memory.

What does the logo symbol mean? ›

The abbreviation LOGO stands for Language of graphics-oriented. The term LOGO is also a symbol that is used to recognize a public identification of a brand or company. The logo can be an abstract design or a symbol that represents a wordmark.

Is Supreme an ethical brand? ›

Unfortunately, Supreme does not provide sufficient information about reducing its impact, which is why it rates “Very Poor” on environmental impact, labour conditions, and animal welfare.

What business strategy does Supreme use? ›

Limited Supply Marketing Strategy

They use a business model of 'high demand, low supply' keeping the target audience in view. They manufacture limited 'edition' pieces to maintain the demand and desirability. Their products aren't sold in large retail stores, keeping their availability limited.

What makes a good brand promise? ›

To motivate clients, a brand promise must achieve the following three goals: It must convey a compelling benefit. It must be authentic & credible. It must be kept, every time.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5993

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.