Hocosa: adding color to our woollies for about 15 years
We have been selling Hocosa for about fifteen years now. In those days, we were already working with Engel, but to be honest, we sometimes missed a bit of color. The quality was fantastic, but we felt it could all be a little less conservative. And then we discovered Hocosa: the same quality class, the same fine natural materials, but with colors that were just a bit fresher and funkier.
That fit perfectly with Natur-el. Because in our opinion, sustainable and natural doesn’t automatically have to mean beige, boring, or "granola." Younger customers also wanted to wear wool-silk underwear — just in colors that made them happy.
Herr Schwarz knew absolutely everything
When we started with Hocosa, the company was still owned by Herr Schwarz. He was such a very neat, typical Swiss man who had everything organized down to the last detail. The hilarious thing was that he seemed to know every single item and its corresponding number by heart. You could barely come up with a question without him immediately knowing which number went with it.
That actually fit the brand perfectly: Swiss reliability, deep product knowledge, and attention to quality. Hocosa does not make disposable underwear or fleeting fashion. These are fine basic pieces that you wear often and need to be able to rely on.
From vests and longsleeves to that hideous kidney warmer
We started with wool-silk underwear for women and men and a collection for children. Think of vests, shirts, longsleeves, leggings, and briefs. From there, we discovered more and more special products from Hocosa.
At one point, we came across their wool kidney warmer. Honestly: that thing is certainly no beauty queen. But we immediately thought: okay, we need this. That turned out to be a stroke of genius. A great many customers put it on and then said: “I didn’t know this was what I had actually been looking for my whole life.”
A kidney warmer provides a comfortable extra layer around your abdomen, lower back, and kidneys, without having to make your entire outfit bulkier. By now, our wool kidney warmers have been given their own collection.
It didn’t stop there. Hocosa also makes shoulder warmers and other clever wool layers for people who can use some extra warmth in specific areas. Not everything has to be beautiful to work incredibly well — and it is precisely those kinds of quirky products that fit very well with Natur-el.
Natural underwear from Switzerland
The history of Hocosa dates back to 1886 and the company has always remained in Switzerland. The production site is in Bedano. In addition, Hocosa works with specialized partners in countries including Germany, Austria, and Italy.
The collection consists of various natural material qualities, including 100% merino wool, 70% merino wool with 30% silk, wool-silk-cotton, and 100% tussah silk. The wool, wool-silk, and wool-silk-cotton lines are GOTS-certified according to Hocosa.
Hocosa indicates that the products do not undergo any chemical or synthetic treatment. The wool is obtained by shearing the sheep by hand and mulesing is not permitted. These are exactly the things our customers — and we ourselves — value: knowing what you wear on your skin and being able to trust the way it is made.
Why choose wool and silk?
Merino wool helps your body maintain its temperature. It warms you when you need warmth, but can also absorb moisture without immediately feeling clammy. Silk makes the fabric smoother, more supple, and softer. This makes wool-silk a very fine base layer that you can wear almost all year round.
A vest or longsleeve made of wool and silk works well under your regular clothing, but many models are beautiful enough to be worn visibly. Moreover, Hocosa is a great choice when you are looking for a bit more color within natural wool underwear.
View our wool underwear for women or discover the wool underwear for men. Not sure exactly which thickness, material type, or version suits you? Our wool underwear buying guide will help you on your way.
A breath of fresh air under Michele Genovesi
Herr Schwarz is no longer the owner. Since 2022, Michele Genovesi has been at the helm of Hocosa. We are very happy with the collaboration and see that the brand continues to develop. The beautiful colors remain, but new items and ideas are also being added.
For Natur-el, Hocosa has therefore not only remained a colorful addition to Engel. The brand has really secured its own place within our huge range of wool and wool-silk underwear. The classic basic pieces are still there, while products like the kidney warmers and shoulder warmers offer exactly those practical extras that you sometimes only discover you needed after you’ve put them on.
Trying on Hocosa at Natur-el in Rotterdam
You really have to feel wool underwear once. That is why we have an extensive collection of Hocosa for women and men in our store in Rotterdam. There you can compare different materials, models, and sizes, and our staff will be happy to help you choose.
Maybe you come in for a simple vest. Maybe you walk out with a hideous but divine kidney warmer. We don’t judge — we understand it completely.
