Hanro
Product brand
UnclaimedHanro is an Austrian-headquartered luxury apparel brand known for lingerie, underwear, nightwear, and loungewear.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Hanro is a premium apparel brand whose principal categories are lingerie, underwear, sleepwear, and loungewear for women and men. Although its current headquarters are in Götzis, Vorarlberg, Austria, the company originated in Liestal, Switzerland, where Albert Handschin established a hand-knitting business in 1884. The Hanro name was formed from the surnames Handschin and Ronus after Carl Ronus joined the enterprise in 1895, and it became a registered trademark in 1913. The business developed from a Swiss textile manufacturer into an internationally oriented underwear company. Before the First World War, it produced and exported women's lingerie to France, the British Empire, and the United States. Wartime conditions led it to manufacture military underwear, while material shortages and rationing constrained operations during the Second World War. After 1945, production expanded substantially, including through the recruitment of young women from Italy in 1947. By the late 1950s, the company employed hundreds of people and sold in dozens of countries. Hanro broadened its manufacturing and product footprint during the 1960s and 1970s. It acquired HIS & Co. KG in Murgenthal, created a subsidiary in Novazzano, and moved beyond lingerie into beachwear, swimwear, daywear, sleepwear, and some outerwear. The company also operated internationally, including through an Australian subsidiary and a production facility near Dublin. Economic pressure on Swiss textile manufacturers—including the strong Swiss franc, relatively high labor costs, and export duties—made the 1970s difficult, and Hanro increasingly concentrated on daywear and sleepwear during the following decade. Huber Tricot acquired a 75 percent stake in Hanro in 1991 and purchased the remaining shares two years later, bringing the formerly family-managed company into the Huber Group. Production in Liestal was progressively transferred to the parent company's operations between 1997 and 1999; the Dublin facility was sold in 1998, and production in Novazzano ended in 2002. Hanro's headquarters moved to Götzis in 2004. In the current operating model, much of the textile production is carried out at the Arula plant in Mäder, Austria, with sewing in Portugal and warehousing in Hungary. Hanro positions itself at the luxury end of the underwear and homewear market, emphasizing fabric quality, finishing, comfort, understated design, and durability. Its products are distributed through specialty retailers, department stores, company boutiques, and outlet stores. The brand has operated subsidiaries in several European markets and the United States, and its retail network has included stores in international cities as well as outlets in Switzerland. The wider Huber Group also includes the Skiny, Huber, and HOM brands. Hanro has maintained a notable cultural profile through appearances in films and references in popular fiction. Its historical importance is also preserved through the Hanro Collection, a body of textiles and company records acquired by the Canton of Basel-Landschaft in 2015. The collection documents the brand's manufacturing history and the social context of Swiss textile production. Hanro remains an active internationally distributed brand under Huber Group ownership.
History
Hanro began in 1884 when Albert Handschin founded a hand-knitting company in Liestal, Switzerland. Carl Ronus joined in 1895, and the partners operated under the name Handschin & Ronus. The company acquired the Benzbur property in Liestal in 1898, completing production buildings there the following year. A second facility opened in Büren, Solothurn, in 1911 as demand increased. The Hanro trademark, derived from the founders' surnames, was registered in 1913. Before the First World War, the company specialized in women's lingerie and exported to France, the British Empire, and the United States. The First World War forced a change in assortment, with Hanro producing military underwear. In late 1919, the partnership became Hanro AG, a family-owned public limited company. International expansion continued with an Australian subsidiary established in 1926; employees from Switzerland operated production in Bendigo. During the 1930s, Hanro entered beachwear and swimwear, while circular-knitting technology enabled experimentation with outerwear. The Second World War brought shortages of raw materials, textile rationing, and substitute fabrics, making both production and sales difficult. Following the war, Hanro rebuilt its operations and recruited young Italian women to work in Switzerland in 1947. Production grew from 1946 to 1958, when the workforce reached 689 employees, and the company sold in 45 countries. In 1963, Hanro acquired HIS & Co. KG in Murgenthal, creating Hanro Hisco AG. The Australian subsidiary was sold during the 1960s, while Hanro Nova SA was founded in Novazzano in 1970. Employment reached approximately 1,000 in 1972. A minority stake was acquired by Traversina S. A., an investment company associated with Dubied & Cie. S. A., in 1973, although the founding families retained most of the capital. The 1970s exposed Hanro to the structural problems affecting Swiss textile manufacturing. Currency strength, high wages, and customs duties weakened the competitiveness of exports. Hanro Hisco AG closed in 1976, and the company established a subsidiary near Dublin in 1980. During the 1980s, it placed greater emphasis on daywear and sleepwear rather than maintaining its earlier breadth of textile production. A major ownership transition occurred in 1991, when Huber Tricot acquired 75 percent of Hanro. The remaining 25 percent was purchased in 1993, ending three generations of family management. Production in Liestal was gradually discontinued between 1997 and 1999 in favor of the parent company's facilities. The Dublin site was sold in 1998, and manufacturing in Novazzano ended in 2002. Since 2004, Hanro has been headquartered in Götzis, where the Huber Group is based. The modern business operates as Hanro International GmbH within the Huber Group. Its production network includes textile manufacturing at Arula in Mäder, Vorarlberg, sewing in Portugal, and warehousing in Hungary. Products are distributed through subsidiaries, retailers, department stores, boutiques, and outlets in nearly 50 countries. The brand's principal markets have included the United States, Germany, Switzerland, the British Isles, Austria, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Japan. In 2015, the Canton of Basel-Landschaft acquired Hanro's historical textile and company archive, preserving material relating to the brand's industrial and social history.
- 2016
Designer of the Year recognition
[1]Hanro was named Designer of the Year at the Salon International de la Lingerie trade fair.
- 2015
Historical collection preserved by Basel-Landschaft
[1]The Canton of Basel-Landschaft acquired Hanro's historical textiles and operating archive.
- 2004
Headquarters moved to Götzis
[1]Hanro's headquarters were established in Götzis, Vorarlberg, Austria, alongside the Huber Group.
- 1993
Huber acquired the remaining shares
[1]Huber Tricot took control of the remaining 25 percent of Hanro.
- 1991
Huber Tricot acquired a majority stake
[1]Huber Tricot purchased 75 percent of Hanro, beginning the brand's integration into the Huber Group.
- 1970
Hanro Nova founded
[1]Hanro established Hanro Nova SA in Novazzano, Switzerland.
- 1926
Australian subsidiary established
[1]Hanro opened a subsidiary in Australia, with Swiss employees setting up production in Bendigo.
- 1913
Hanro trademark registered
[1]The Hanro name, formed from Handschin and Ronus, was registered as a trademark.
- 1911
Second Swiss production facility opened
[1]Hanro opened a facility in Büren, Solothurn, to support growing demand.
- 1895
Carl Ronus joins the business
[1]Carl Ronus became a partner, and the enterprise operated as Handschin & Ronus.
Products and positioning
Luxury and premium comfort apparel, with an emphasis on high-quality materials, refined finishing, understated design, and long-wearing everyday use.
Underwear · 1884
Lingerie and underwear
Hanro's core offer consists of premium underwear and lingerie for women and men. The category is associated with soft fabrics, careful finishing, understated styling, and comfort-oriented construction. It includes briefs, camisoles, coordinated underwear, and other foundational garments sold through specialty retailers, department stores, boutiques, and the brand's own retail locations.
Sleepwear
Nightwear
Nightwear became an increasingly important focus as Hanro moved toward daywear and sleepwear in the 1980s. The range includes pajamas, nightshirts, robes, and related pieces designed around the brand's premium comfort positioning and use of quality textiles.
Homewear
Loungewear
Hanro's loungewear extends its underwear expertise into relaxed clothing for wearing at home or during leisure. The products typically emphasize soft hand feel, uncomplicated silhouettes, and refined finishing rather than conspicuous branding.
Swimwear · 1930
Beachwear and swimwear
The company expanded into beach and swimwear from the mid-1930s. This category broadened Hanro beyond intimate apparel and formed part of its historical product diversification before the brand concentrated more heavily on daywear and sleepwear.
Apparel
Daywear
Daywear became a stronger strategic focus during the 1980s, complementing underwear and sleepwear. The category covers garments intended for daytime use and reflects Hanro's move from a primarily lingerie-oriented manufacturer toward a broader premium essentials brand.
Brand decisions
1997
Production consolidated into Huber operationsStrategyBackground
Following the ownership change, the group reorganized Hanro's manufacturing footprint.
Action taken
Production in Liestal was gradually discontinued between 1997 and 1999; the Dublin facility was sold in 1998, and Novazzano production ended in 2002.
Aftermath
Hanro's headquarters moved to Götzis in 2004, and the brand operated within a more integrated international production and distribution network.
1991
Huber Tricot takes a majority stakeM&ABackground
Hanro had remained a family-managed business for three generations while facing the broader competitive pressures affecting Swiss textile manufacturing.
Action taken
Huber Tricot acquired 75 percent of Hanro, beginning the ownership transition into the Huber Group.
Aftermath
Huber acquired the remaining 25 percent in 1993, and Hanro subsequently consolidated and relocated production operations.
Sources1 sources
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