Herno’s ‘Made in Italy’ fabrics have been at the heart of the outerwear label since its beginnings as a producer of raincoats in 1948. Seeking protection from the elements, founder Giuseppe Marenzi and his wife Alessandra Diana discovered a way to treat cotton with castor oil from abandoned Second World War warplanes to make it waterproof. 

Seven decades on, such innovations remain at the heart of Herno, which is headquartered on the shores of Lake Maggiore, northern Italy. The complex has run on solar power since 2010, a reflection of the brand’s commitment to environmental concerns.