A Lake Story
“In the beginning, there was water. The water that carries the flow of life. The water that creates. …”
The opening words of “In Flumine est vita”, dedicated to Herno's 70th anniversary, encapsulate the brand's deep connection with its defining element: water. Rivers and lakes, rain and fog, snow and moisture—water was the source of inspiration behind the quintessential high-performance product that started it all: the raincoat.
It was from the cotton used in 1948, treated with castor oil from decommissioned aircraft left behind after World War Two, that a young Giuseppe Marenzi and his wife Alessandra Diana sensed an opportunity to start a business. The early years saw Herno's penchant for experimentation and innovation take shape, fuelled by the urgency and enthusiasm of Italy’s vibrant post-war period.
Life alongside the waters of the lake and river inspired the creation of functional jackets and high-performance coats boasting refined designs and exceptional craftsmanship. Embodying Italian savoir-faire, these garments were designed to protect the wearer from the cold, rain, northerly winds and damp conditions of the lakeside region.
For Herno, water is synonymous with many things: connection, love, passion, challenge, ingenuity.
And success.
Following the raincoats, womenswear arrived in the mid-1950s, with cashmere coats made from double-face fabric and finished by hand. By 1968, Herno had expanded eastwards to Japan, with stores opening in Osaka then Tokyo. In the early 1980s, the brand travelled further west, arriving in the United States.
Herno's expertise in garment-making became so highly regarded that, during the 1990s, emerging labels, many of which would go on to become famous in their own right, turned to the company to make their products. These included some of the France and Italy's most luxurious brands.
At Herno, quality and investment in production equipment have always been at the forefront, serving as a hallmark of a company that, in the 2000s, once again embraced change in production processes, guided by expertise rooted in Italian craftsmanship. The brand, named after the river that flows beside its headquarters, was relaunched.
Born in 1962, Claudio Marenzi is the President of Herno S.p.A., a company owned by the Marenzi family since its inception. Under his leadership, the brand strengthened its international presence, beginning in 2005, when he decided to reinvest in the Herno brand. The company has gone on to celebrate more than 70 years as a family-run business. “It was far from easy to improve all this. In 1948 my father turned the rainy climate of the lake and the humidity of the water around us into an opportunity.”
Claudio Marenzi, President of Herno
He has always based his work on strong local roots, maintaining creative and production control, and striving for products that are both functional and stylish. Today, after essentially being “shelved” in the 1990s, Herno is a globally recognised brand in the luxury sector, with a well-established presence in overseas markets.
“A mostly successful period, certainly with its ups and downs, complicated family intrigues, fear and adrenaline when I decided to go it alone and focus on Herno, halting production of the more famous French brands.”
Claudio Marenzi, President of Herno
Always convinced of the need to establish a system and protect the value of the Italian supply chain, Claudio Marenzi served from 2013 to 2018 as president of Sistema Moda Italia and from 2017 to 2023 as president of Pitti Immagine.
At the same time, in March 2017 he was appointed president of Confindustria Moda, a confederation created in the same year and strongly sought by Marenzi in order to strengthen, promote and protect the excellence of the Italian fashion, textile and accessories sector in global markets. In 2016 he was awarded the honour of Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, and in 2018 he received the “Quality Italy” Leonardo Award.
“I never said to myself there in the company that this is my life, I just want to do this…. But then I got carried away by the river water.”
Claudio Marenzi, President of Herno
