Darmstadt fashion house looks back on tradition, vision and three generations
For 90 years and three generations, the HENSCHEL fashion group, headquartered in Darmstadt, has stood for fashion, quality, and consistency – proving that tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive. The family business, whose distinctive headquarters and flagship are now an integral part of Darmstadt's market square, was transferred by friendly agreement from the founding Rothschild family to the then newly founded Henschel & Ropertz KG in 1935. Dr. Erich Henschel and Hans Ropertz assumed management.
Always looking ahead
Difficult times followed, culminating in the devastating air raid on Darmstadt in 1944. But just three years after the end of the war, Henschel & Ropertz regained its strength and reopened the ground floor of the heavily damaged original store. From then on, things went uphill: With unbridled enthusiasm, courage, and creativity, the company continued to expand and renovate over the next decades to live up to its role as a leading local provider. In the 1970s, the stores in Michelstadt and Heidelberg strengthened the family business's presence beyond Darmstadt. In recent decades, the store on Darmstadt's market square has transformed from a department store to a pure fashion retailer, offering complementary lifestyle products.
People make HENSCHEL
After the Ropertz family left in 2003, the Henschel/Koch family, with the participation of managing directors Kai Brune and Dr. Moritz Koch, remained the sole owners to this day. Even the coronavirus crisis and vacant spaces in the city center could not dampen the HENSCHEL spirit and philosophy. "HENSCHEL thrives on the people who visit us. We want to inspire our customers," says Dr. Moritz Koch, Managing Partner. With successful customer loyalty programs, attractive fashion promotions, and innovative services, the teams at all three locations ensure an unforgettable and, above all, personal shopping experience – as they do at other stores in Lübeck, Gießen, and Fulda.
Investments in the future
With a multi-million euro investment in its Darmstadt site two years ago, HENSCHEL is once again demonstrating its future viability. "We have our sights firmly set on reaching 100 locations and are working towards it with creativity, passion, and dedication," says Kai Brune, also a managing partner.
(PR)
ABOUT HENSCHEL
The fashion and lifestyle company HENSCHEL is a third-generation family business that has been setting trends for 90 years. With an exclusive selection of national and international brands for women, men, and children, as well as a comprehensive range of services – including personal shopping, an alteration service, and a loyalty card – HENSCHEL offers a unique shopping experience in a family-friendly atmosphere. In Darmstadt, a rooftop restaurant rounds out the lifestyle concept. With the acquisition of the Köhler stores in Gießen and Fulda, the HENSCHEL Group is not only strengthening its market position but also demonstrating that brick-and-mortar retail continues to offer growth and development potential.
