Who Is Herno? The Italian Outerwear House Behind the Jacket

Herno is an Italian outerwear house founded in 1948 in Lesa, on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, by Giuseppe Marenzi and his wife Alessandra Diana. It began with men’s raincoats and is now best known for featherweight nylon down jackets, padded blazers and technical coats that look tailored instead of sporty.

Quick answer

• Founded in 1948 in Lesa, Piedmont, in the province of Novara, Italy.
• Founders: Giuseppe Marenzi and his wife Alessandra Diana.
• The name comes from the Erno river, which runs into Lake Maggiore.
• Best known for very light nylon down jackets, the La Giacca padded blazer and membrane raincoats.
• Claudio Marenzi, the founders’ son, has led the company since the 2000s.
• 2022 revenue was about EUR 128 million, with roughly 67% earned through exports.
• At Coveti, Herno men’s jackets run from $1,080 to $6,020 and coats from $1,270 to $6,350.

Herno at a glance

Where does the name Herno come from?

The name is borrowed from the Erno, a small river that runs through the area and empties into Lake Maggiore. It is a local name for a local company, and the brand still talks about the lake in almost every product story it writes.

Lesa sits in the province of Novara. The headquarters is still there, and Herno has made it energy self-sufficient with photovoltaic solar systems.

How did Herno start?

Giuseppe Marenzi and Alessandra Diana started the business in 1948 making raincoats for men. Italy was rebuilding after the war and materials were scarce, so the early coats used cotton treated with castor oil to keep the rain out. It was a practical answer to a practical problem, and that idea of weather protection with a tailored line has stayed at the centre of the brand ever since.

That raincoat heritage matters when you look at the current collection. Many Herno pieces still read as city coats first and technical garments second. The membranes and down are hidden inside a shape you could wear over a suit.

How did Herno grow from the 1950s to the 1980s?

In the 1950s Herno added cashmere coats and began making womenswear. In 1968 it opened stores in Osaka and Tokyo, an early bet on a market that came to value precise Italian outerwear. Through the 1980s the company grew in Japan and then in the United States.

For many years Herno also produced outerwear for other luxury houses. Wikipedia reports that the list included some of the best-known names in fashion. That background as a maker for others explains why the brand is respected for construction more than for logos.

What is Herno known for today?

From the 1980s onwards Herno built its name on parkas and down jackets in very light nylon filled with natural down. The modern expression of that is Nylon Ultralight, which Herno calls iconic. It is highly water-resistant and has a soft, silk-like hand. On the lightest down pieces Herno pairs 20-denier Japanese nylon with 90/10 down padding.

The house classics are the ones men come back to season after season:

• La Giacca, the padded jacket cut like a blazer, in recycled nylon microfibre with a light coating on the reverse.
• L’Aviatore, the bomber in the same recycled nylon, with stretch knit collar, cuffs and waistband.
• Il Cappotto, a padded coat with a removable windproof bib.
• Lo Smanicato, the quilted vest with a high neck.

Alongside those sit technical pieces. Herno makes parkas and blazers in 2-Layer Windstopper, a polyester microfibre bonded to a membrane with a water column of 20,000 mm. Its Laminar line covers performance outerwear, including Gore-Tex shells. Herno also labels its cold-weather tech: HERNO IN-TECH is cold-resistant, water-repellent and breathable, HERNO POLAR-TECH is light and thermal, and HERNO SUB-ZERO is down-padded for real cold.

You can see the full spread on the Herno brand page at Coveti, with men’s jackets and men’s coats making up most of the range.

Who runs Herno now?

Claudio Marenzi, son of the founders, took over the leadership in the 2000s. He refocused the company on the Herno label itself instead of production for other brands, and he brought the supply chain in-house. In 2011 Herno was named best Italian business at the 80th Pitti Immagine Uomo, the Florence menswear fair.

Since 2020 the brand has widened into knitwear, accessories and trainers. In 2021 it acquired the Italian outdoor brand Montura, and in 2025 it launched Herno Habita, a home line. In 2022 the company reported revenue of about EUR 128 million, with roughly 67% coming from exports.

Is Herno a luxury brand?

Yes. Herno sits in the luxury tier on price, materials and construction, but it is a quiet kind of luxury. There is no large logo on the chest. The only obvious branding is a small metal plate on the back. Prices at Coveti start at $380 for a T-shirt and climb to $6,350 for a cashmere and silk parka. For a fuller verdict on quality and value, read is Herno a good brand.

How do you recognise a Herno jacket?

A few details give a Herno jacket away once you know them:

• The small metal Herno logo plate stitched on the back.
• A soft matt finish on the nylon instead of a high shine.
• Removable bibs on many coats and blazers, with two-way zips.
• Italian model names such as La Giacca, Il Cappotto and L’Aviatore.
• Tailored proportions: shoulders and lengths that sit well over a shirt and knit.

Five Herno pieces that explain the brand

These five pieces cover the house signatures. All are in the current Coveti edit and sizes listed are UK and US chest equivalents.

1. La Giacca Padded Blazer in Blue

The piece that defines Herno for many men. La Giacca is a blazer-shaped padded jacket in recycled nylon microfibre, lightly coated on the reverse for a soft feel and a waterproof matt finish. A removable windproof bib with a two-way zip turns it from office layer to cold-morning jacket. It is cut close, like tailoring, so wear it over a shirt and a fine knit. $1,720.

2. L’Aviatore in Black

Herno’s classic bomber, in the same recycled nylon microfibre with the soft coated back. Stretch knit collar, cuffs and waistband hold the shape close to the body, so it looks neat under a raincoat and sharp on its own with dark denim. Black is the easiest colour to start with. A good first Herno for a man who lives in casual clothes. $1,610.

3. Il Cappotto in Blue

The padded coat version of the house formula. Il Cappotto is cut longer to cover a suit jacket, in recycled nylon microfibre with a waterproof matt finish. It has a removable windproof bib with two-way zip and two handwarmer pockets. It suits commuters who want warmth without the bulk of a parka and prefer a coat length. $1,970.

4. Blue Raincoat in 2-Layer Windstopper

A nod to the 1948 raincoats, built with modern tech. Polyester microfibre is bonded to a high-performance membrane that breathes and holds a water column of 20,000 mm. The cut is clean and city-ready, and the hood is removable, so it works with tailoring on wet days and with knitwear at the weekend. $1,720.

5. Blue and Chantilly Vest in Nylon Ultralight

The purest expression of Nylon Ultralight. This vest uses 20-denier Japanese nylon with 90/10 injected down for a very light feel, decent water resistance and a silk-like hand. The two-tone blue and chantilly finish adds a little interest. Layer it under a coat in winter and over a shirt in spring. $1,160.

How does Herno sizing work?

Herno uses Italian men’s sizes from IT 44 to IT 60. Coveti lists the UK and US chest equivalent, which is the Italian size minus 10, so IT 50 becomes a 40 chest. Order your usual jacket size, and size up one only if you plan to layer a thick knit under a slim piece. The full tables are in the Herno size guide.

Beyond outerwear, the brand now covers the rest of the wardrobe. Browse Herno knitwear, trousers and trainers, and the full men’s edit for pieces to wear with it. Everything sits on the Herno hub.

Read next: Is Herno a good brand?, Herno vs Moncler vs Canada Goose and where to buy Herno.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Herno?

Herno is run by the Marenzi family. Claudio Marenzi, son of founders Giuseppe Marenzi and Alessandra Diana, took over leadership in the 2000s and refocused the company on its own label.

Where is Herno made?

Herno is based in Lesa, on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, where it was founded in 1948. The company brought its supply chain in-house under Claudio Marenzi. Check each product page for its specific country of manufacture.

What is Herno famous for?

Herno is famous for very light nylon down jackets, especially pieces in its Nylon Ultralight fabric, and for the La Giacca padded blazer. It also makes membrane raincoats, parkas and wool coats.

Is Herno an Italian brand?

Yes. Herno is Italian, founded in 1948 in Lesa in the province of Novara, Piedmont. Its name comes from the Erno river, which runs into Lake Maggiore.

How much does a Herno jacket cost?

At Coveti, Herno men’s jackets cost from $1,080 to $6,020. Classic padded models such as La Giacca and L’Aviatore sit around $1,600 to $2,000, while cashmere and silk pieces cost more.

What is the Herno logo?

Herno’s logo is a small metal plate with the Herno name, placed on the back of the garment. There is no large chest logo.