1.
Michi Klemera co-founded the Luis Trenker brand in 1995 alongside his older brother Hansjörg, who left the company five years later to follow his own path. Despite this, their relationship remained as strong as ever— if not closer!
2.
In an interesting twist of fate, Michi’s daughter Johanna was born on March 18, 1995—almost exactly the same time the Luis Trenker brand was founded. So, it’s safe to say that Johanna’s fashion sense runs in her veins!
3.
For the 2000 winter collection photoshoot, the Luis Trenker team flew to New York City to capture the unique vibe of the Trenker film "The Prodigal Son". Michi wasn’t just behind the camera; he also took center stage as a model!
4.
Michi and Luis Trenker have more in common than just their mutual love for fashion—they also share the zodiac sign of Libra!
Known for their charismatic, vibrant personalities and a deep desire for balance and harmony, both Michi and Luis truly embody the best qualities of this sign.
Whether it's finding the right balance between work and relaxation or embracing life's many adventures, they both strive for equilibrium in everything they do.
5.
Luis Trenker is an icon to us. He wore his rugged mountain boots on some of the world’s most luxurious marble floors—from Hollywood to Berlin to Bolzano. His bold statement, “I am who I am. I’m dirty, I’m sweaty, I just came down from the Matterhorn, but I’m a great guy,” still resonates with us.
6.
Michi’s father, Erich Klemera, was often mistaken for Luis Trenker while hiking in the South Tyrolean mountains—especially when he was tan and in shorts. This always annoyed him, but he took his sons' choice of name for the brand with humor.
7.
The passion for fashion and traditional craftsmanship runs deep in the Klemera family. Michi’s great-grandfather, Wenzel Klemera, was a respected tailor in Salzburg and even a purveyor to the imperial court of Austria-Hungary.
8.
The 2019 Trenker film The Mountain Calls (which was inspired by the silent film Battle for the Matterhorn, in which Luis starred) inspired Michi to climb the Matterhorn with his mountain guide Toni Stocker. That same year, he trekked to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, always seeking new challenges!
9.
In 2015, Luis Trenker launched the A Flower for Nepal campaign, supporting victims of Nepal’s devastating earthquake.
The felt flowers that became a symbol of this campaign are still hand-made in Kathmandu to this day.
10.
Drawing inspiration from the multifaceted personality of Luis Trenker, we’ve often ventured into new territories—like launching our own golf collection and kids' line.
We’ve also explored a variety of other fields: from interior design (bed linens, chairs) to fine food (cheese, pine schnapps), we've tried it all!
11.
Michi’s stepdaughter Linda has modeled for several photoshoots, impressing with her strong presence that fits perfectly with our fashion.
Now, the youngest family member, Nina, confidently struts the catwalk at every collection presentation, as if she’s always been a pro.
12.
For many years, the Luis Trenker collections have been crafted in close collaboration with a design studio in Bologna.
Through collaborative meetings in both Bozen and Bologna, the team defines the theme for each collection—analyzing trends, passionately discussing ideas, and creating mood boards.
Under the direction of head designer Gionata Malagodi, the team sketches key looks and carefully selects fabrics and patterns.
13.
Once the design process is complete, the next step is creating a sample collection. These pieces are used for photoshoots, fashion shows, and pre-orders from our retail partners.
For reference, our sample sizes are Italian women’s size 42 (S) and men’s size 50 (L).
14.
Before a collection is produced, we conduct fittings with our models, Enrico and Aisha, who perfectly match our sample size.
This process ensures that each piece fits just right, with our production team dedicating plenty of time to perfecting every detail.
15.
One material that’s a signature of our collections is the wide-ribbed Trenker corduroy.
It’s named after Luis Trenker, who made this versatile fabric trendy with his iconic rustic knickerbockers.
16.
Every season starts with an idea. We always look for a theme that reflects life and captures the spirit of Luis Trenker.
Charismatic, humorous, open to new things, (self-)ironic, and above all, authentic—these are the traits that define our style.
17.
Our inspiration often comes from the period between the two World Wars.
For instance, the women’s collection is inspired by bold, iconic figures like Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo—women who weren't afraid to express their femininity through masculine-cut outfits.
18.
When designing our collections, we ensure that the colors and materials harmonize with past collections, allowing for easy mixing and matching.
As Michi says, “This kind of sustainability has always felt natural to us.”
19.
The Lusandro men’s blazer model has been part of every collection for 25 years and is a bestseller.
Michi attributes its success to its unique design — a Bavarian-inspired stand-up collar combined with Italian cuts.
South Tyrol, being bilingual, is at the heart of our work — merging Italian relaxation and elegance with German structure and discipline.
20.
The heart of our production beats in Naples, where the rich tradition of Italian tailoring began.
It’s here that all our men’s clothing (blazers, trousers, vests) is made.
21.
Our shirts and t-shirts come from Portugal, as sunny and warm-hearted as the country itself, and as cheerful as our production manager Teresa, who has been with us for many years and is like family.
22.
Our leather shoes stand out for their hand-stitched craftsmanship.
The upper and lower parts are sewn together with great care, unlike the glued construction used by many other shoe manufacturers. This traditional technique ensures both comfort and durability.
23.
One of the key pillars of our philosophy is consistency, particularly in our relationships with producers, suppliers, and service providers.
Whether it's the shoe factory in Treviso, the graphic agency in Salzburg, or our photographer in South Tyrol, we take pride in nurturing long-lasting, close, and friendly partnerships with collaborators who have been by our side for years.
Left image: Michi with the Zorzi family of Tre Cime Shoes, the workshop in the Province of Treviso that has been handcrafting our leather shoes for many years.
Right image: Michi with Meike Schilcher, who oversees distribution in Eastern Austria, and Alex Aichner, the creative director, in Salzburg.
24.
Michi’s personal style icon is an American designer from the Bronx who created a fashion empire.
Inspired by the classic elegance of this designer’s work, Michi envisions being the "Ralph Lauren of the Alps."
25.
Michi’s big dream? To open a Luis Trenker store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
“If someone gave us the capital and trust to open a store there, we’d make a real splash!”
26.
From a one-man show to a big family: While Michi initially built the brand on his own, the Luis Trenker team has grown steadily over the years and now boasts around 90 employees.
“My team is my greatest pride,” Michi says, as every single person plays a key role in the brand’s success.
27.
Just like Luis Trenker, we aim to cross borders: Our brand has expanded beyond Europe, with 200 global retail partners offering our fashion.
From Japan, where we’re in the top three department stores, to the mountain resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek in the Rocky Mountains, our collections are loved worldwide.
In the picture: Michi with the Grasegger family, owners of Trachten and Fashion House Grasegger from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, who have been valued business partners and close friends for many years.
28.
In the late '90s, German TV entertainer Thomas Gottschalk took notice of our brand after seeing an imitation of his idol, Luis Trenker, at a casting.
Known for his love of extravagant fashion, he immediately embraced our unconventional creations.
29.
Girls rule the world: Around 70% of the Luis Trenker team is female.
Whether at our headquarters in Bolzano or in one of our stores, in accounting or production, we proudly say that strong women lead every aspect of the company!
30.
30. In 2016, we had only two Luis Trenker stores—in Kitzbühel and Innsbruck.
By 2025, we’ll have 14. Our retail network has grown sevenfold in under a decade, and each location is unique because, as we like to say, Luis Trenker is where it’s most beautiful!