Unique knit to achieve both warm and breathability

Creating wool knitwear suitable for running in winter weather or climbing high altitude mountains has been one of our goals since founding HERENESS.

Can insulation and breathabiltiy exist together? It does in our MERINO AIR HOODIE, which features a unique 3D-knit structure that traps air for insulation. This innovative knit technology is developed by Sato Textile, a yarn manufacturing in Yamagata, Japan, and Shima Seiki, a cutting-edge knitting machine manufacturer based in Wakayama City. Because merino wool is used, this hoodie also benefits from the inherent breathable property of this natural material.


In cold weather, you can add a thin windbreaker over the hoodie for extra warmth without the bulk. During high-intensity activities, you can remove the wind jacket for instant ventilation.

The textured fabric and elgant silhouette also makes the MERINO AIR HOODIE suitable for everyday wear. Pull the hood around your neck and the hoodie transforms into a turtleneck sweater for a coffee run or night out with friends.

Making the most of wool

The material of the MERINO AIR HOODIE is a blend of wool and RENU®︎ recycled polyester.

Conventional shrink-resist treatments work by removing scales on wool fibers. But this approach weakens the natural insulation, moisture absoprtion, and odor resistance of wool. The yarn we use has been treated differently to preserve scales of the fibers, retaining all of wool's natural properties. Blending in polyester enhances the moisture-wicking and quick-drying ability of the material, making it ideal for high-intensity workouts.

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• No seams, no waste

  Shima Seiki's WHOLEGARMENT proprietary technology produces entire pieces of knitwear without any seams. It eliminates the 30% fabric loss from cutting and sewing conventional knit products, significantly reducing yarn waste. Garments can also be produced in small batches, which minimizes possible waste from excess inventory.

• Giving old clothing a second life

  It is estimated that around 100 billion pieces of clothing are produced every year, but only 20% of that is actually worn. The remaining 80% ends up in landfills. Unlike other recycled polyester (generally derived from PET plastic bottles), RENU®️ takes a circular economy approach and creates new material from recycled clothing and fabric scraps. The polyester produced by RENU®️ partner factories has the same quality as petroleum-derived polyester, and is more sustainable.

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