Making-It
Making is everything
"For those of us who work in fashion and luxury, MAKING is everything. Designing then creating a second skin for people to wear. And doing it exceptionally well, with taste, understanding and skill. Sensing and picking up on people's needs and wants in the moment, sometimes even anticipating them.
It’s a complex challenge that calls for an Italian approach, ensuring that our way of doing things is recognised around the world, while embracing innovation, greater traceability and transparency. The world is changing. And it’s probably changing for the better. We have a great responsibility to preserve what makes us unique and to stay true to ourselves, all while never settling for less. Doing this in Italy, and for Italy, is a great honour".
Claudio Marenzi, President of Herno
The value and excellence of products made in Italy are shaped by quality-driven choices made long before production begins. At Herno, these choices stem from the work of an in-house team of around a hundred people, including designers, stylists, tailors, pattern makers and sales staff. Many started at a very young age and, thankfully for us, some have stayed for decades, cutting and sewing, passing on their craft to new generations and helping to preserve an Italian tradition that we uphold with unwavering commitment and dedication, determined to do things well.
CERTIFICATIONS
Feathers and down
Herno sources its feathers and down from the food industry; we do not condone any form of plucking of live animals. In line with circular-economy principles, we make the most of these components—which would otherwise end up as waste from other production processes—by giving them a second life.
All our feathers and down are certified by DOWNPASS, which demonstrates compliance with specific animal welfare and supply chain traceability requirements. This means that, for our products, we use only feathers and down that do not come from live animals or from farms that produce foie gras.
The quality and safety of the feathers and down are also subject to specific regulations, certifications and authorisations:
- Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009
- Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011
- OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
- Authorisation from Italian health authorities
- Pennsylvania Sterilization Permit
Herno's suppliers are also members of the EDFA (European Down and Feather Association).
Fur Free Retailer
Fur Free Retailer is an international programme promoted by the Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of organisations committed to animal welfare, and supported in Italy by LAV.
Herno joined the programme several years ago, committing not to use or sell animal fur from its Autumn-Winter 2023–24 collections onwards. This decision reflects the brand’s commitment to animal welfare and forms part of its ongoing research and innovation into developing alternative materials that combine aesthetic appeal with exceptional performance.
Regulations, certifications and standards
Herno also takes great care to comply with regulations and standards aimed at protecting the health and safety of consumers and workers, promoting environmental responsibility and ensuring greater transparency throughout the production chain.
Regulation (EC) No.1907/2006 – The REACH Regulation governs the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances, with the aim of protecting human health and the environment. The regulation imposes specific restrictions on the presence of certain chemical substances in materials and finished products, including fabrics, treatments, dyes and accessories.
Herno takes great care to comply with these requirements, including by involving its suppliers and carrying out specific material-control processes. The brand recognises that product safety and compliance with European regulations are fundamental to the brand’s approach to quality.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 – This is an international certification that attests that textile products, from raw materials to semi-finished and finished products, have been tested for the presence of harmful substances, in accordance with specific safety criteria. Herno takes great care to ensure that the materials it uses carry this certification, collecting and retaining the relevant documentation provided by its suppliers to further support verification of compliance with the requirements set out in its Product Restricted Substances List (PRSL).
Global Recycled Standard (GRS) – This is an international certification that verifies the recycled content of products and traceability throughout the supply chain, while also establishing environmental, social and chemical-use requirements for production processes. Herno promotes transparency regarding the origin and composition of materials, verifying with its suppliers whether GRS certification is present and retaining the relevant documentation to support declarations on recycled content.
PEF – The Product Environmental Footprint, governed by Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, is a European methodology for measuring and assessing the environmental footprint of products and services throughout their entire life cycle, from the sourcing of raw materials to end-of-life management. Herno applies this methodology to a selection of garments from its collections to assess their environmental impacts at each stage of the life cycle and promote greater transparency regarding the environmental performance of its products.
Occupational health and safety
ISO 45001 – This is an international standard that sets out the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system, with the aim of preventing work-related injuries and ill health and promoting safe and healthy working environments. Herno operates in accordance with ISO 45001, prioritising the health and safety of its employees and promoting a safe, respectful working environment.
