Despite the fact 71% of Brits agreed that Fast Fashion is one of the largest contributors to the current climate crisis – 45% have admitted that they actually don’t care about the impact of their purchasing 

 Shocking new research has uncovered Brits views and understanding of the role fast fashion plays on the detrimental effects on the environment.  

 Whilst 71% of those polled agree that fast fashion is one of the largest contributors to the current climate crisis, the study found that 45% of Brits DON’T actually think about the environmental impact of their purchasing when buying from fast fashion retailers.  

Nevertheless, whilst millions of Brits admit that they should be doing more to stem their consumption of fast fashion, 79% believe that there is more to be done by businesses to inform the public of the environmental impact of the clothing they purchase.  

 In addition, 70% of the nation think consumers/shoppers have a right to know how much carbon has been created in the manufacturing of their garments and 59% of people believe that all clothes should come with an environmental efficiency rating so consumers are able to make an informed choice. 

 Of those polled 65% said they would be more likely to buy a clothes garment if it was rated green (Eco-Friendly) over red (Environmentally damaging). With a further 41% admitting that they would change their buying habits if they knew the true environmental impact of their purchasing. 

The research was commissioned by the Christopher Nieper Foundation who are calling on the government to create a Carbon Checker, an environmental initiative for kite marks for clothing to take steps towards net-zero in the industry and incentivise the sector to compete for the most sustainable supply chains.  

The research also revealed 50% of Brits currently purchase 1-5 brand new items of clothing each month which equates to a mammoth 60 items of clothing per year per brit. However, many of these purchases never see the light of day with 41% of Brits admitting that they often return items of clothing that they bought online.  

Of those returning items 56% of the nation say that when returning new clothes, they DON’T consider the additional impact it may have on the environment.  

Shockingly, 17% said that if they knew the true value of the environmental impact of their purchasing, they wouldn’t change their buying habits at all.  

 Christopher Nieper OBE, CEO of clothing manufacturer David Nieper which has been sustainably making clothes in Britain for 60 years and head of the Foundation said: “The fashion sector is worth £26billion and Britain is a world leader in fashion design and fashion education, yet nearly everything we wear is imported. For too long the clothing industry has ignored the consequence of emissions which has led to long-distance supply chains and production in countries with very low proportions of sustainable energy.”  

“Coupling this with the UK public’s current consumption of fast fashion this has created a recipe for disaster for the world’s climate, it is time now to be better informed as a nation about the problems our consumption causes and to single out those brands not doing enough to support the move to net-zero. Making fashion in the UK is highly effective and the opportunity for job creation is huge. even a small increase in UK-sourced manufacturing could generate tens of thousands of new jobs here. If consumers knew the environmental footprint of garments at the point of purchase it would at last be possible to choose planet-friendly garments over planet-damaging versions. This in turn should incentivize the sector to compete for the most sustainable supply chains. Our suggested approach is to form an advisory group, a consortium of organisations which is both geographically diverse and representative of the wider UK fashion and textile industry. And our challenge to government is to act now and introduce carbon checker labels to give consumers a choice and our planet a chance.” 

 To join the initiative visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598973 

 For full story see here

Notes for editors: 

David Nieper LTD 

David Nieper LTD is family company with 280 staff which has designed and manufactured fashion exclusively in England for 60 years, proving sustainable manufacture is possible in Britain. 

Christopher Nieper OBE is the Chief Executive of the Derbyshire clothing manufacturer and joined the business in the 1980s, a time when most British fashion companies moved their manufacturing overseas. Christopher made the decision to keep the firm’s manufacturing base in the East Midlands.  

Today, David Nieper, which designs, manufactures and sells premium women’s clothing, is one of Alfreton’s largest employers with more than 300 staff. 

In the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, he was made an OBE for services to UK manufacturing and apprenticeship development.  

The focus of the company’s new carbon checker innovation will be to quantify the practical steps towards net-zero emissions and create a fashion labelling system which informs consumers. 

The company wants Britain to lead the way to net zero for the world’s most polluting industry and by doing so create new sustainable jobs and manufacturing opportunities around the UK as well as incentivise fashion to clean up its act and to stop buying fashion on the other side of the world where pollution is out of sight and out of mind. 

The carbon checker will be based on an academic partnership to create robust scientific models which will measure and categorise a garment’s carbon footprint and translate it into a meaningful rating for consumers to understand ‘at a glance’ the eco credentials of their purchase, similar to food labelling and white goods. 

To join the initiative visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598973 

For more information please contact: [email protected]  

Derbyshire based fashion firm – David Nieper Ltd, was today presented with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Sustainable Development, by HM Lord-Lieutenant Mrs. Elizabeth Fothergill CBE

The family business sustainably designs and manufactures high-end women’s clothing. All its factories have solar power and zero waste to landfill, its fashion is made predominately in natural fibers and all 300 staff are local. The firm is the only Derbyshire business to have ever been presented with the Sustainable Development Award.

Managing Director, Christopher Nieper OBE commented:

“A Queen’s Award is the highest recognition a British company can receive. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and we are hugely honoured to be recognized as the only Derbyshire business with an accolade in this category.

We would like to the thank Queen’s Award for putting environmental sustainability on the national agenda for business, it has never been more important!

We are facing catastrophic climate change and unfortunately the fashion industry is a major contributor to the environmental crisis and is responsible for 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon and between 5-8% of global emissions every year.[1]

Today is the start of London Fashion Week, yet only a fraction of British designed fashion is actually made in Britain. UK fashion manufacturing only accounts for just 3% of British fashion and making in Britain nearly halves emissions from making offshore.

Sustainable fashion needs sustainable manufacturing at its heart, and this can’t occur while the fashion industry does nothing to reduce carbon in clothes or take fossil fuels out of the supply chain – it is time to take carbon off the catwalk.

Manufacturing in Britain makes business accountable and allows control over each step of the production process. It also creates much-needed British jobs.

Greta is right – we are the custodians of our planet for future generations.

We can manufacture sustainably in this country and it makes commercial sense to do so.”

-ENDS-

For further information contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

[1] https://www.stand.earth/markets-vs-climate/fossil-free-fashion

On the eve of London Fashion Week, (17-21 Sept) a leading UK environmentalist and textile manufacture today calls on the fashion industry to stop polluting and take carbon off the catwalk.

CEO David Nieper Ltd, Christopher Nieper OBE said; “We are facing catastrophic climate change – fast fashion’s offshore manufacturing habit is a major contributor to the environmental crisis across the globe and is alone responsible for between 5-8% of global emissions every year.[1]

Yet, there is no clear plan from government on how to mitigate the damage being done by fashion and textiles in light of the UK’s net zero targets for 2050.

The majority of consumers care about the planet, and would choose responsibly produced garments given the choice. The fashion industry should come together and create a plan to clean up fashion by empowering consumer choice.

The UK is a world leader in fashion. London Fashion Week is itself influential and could be used as a platform to help bring about change. I’m dismayed to see that the UK’s ambitions to take a leading role in tackling climate change appear to exclude the fashion industry.

For fashion to ever be sustainable the whole system needs an overhaul, including the endless, complex supply chains. We need a step change in the way we source fashion and where it’s manufactured.”

Only a fraction of British designed fashion is actually made in Britain. UK fashion manufacturing only accounts for 3.3% value of total fashion industry in Britain. The total retail value of fashion and textiles in the UK is [2]£26billion, while the manufacture of clothes is worth £1.6 billion.

Similarly, while fashion is the UK’s largest creative industry supporting 800,000 jobs, only 26,900 [3] (just 3%) actually make clothes.

Christopher added: “Sustainable fashion needs sustainable manufacturing at its heart, and this can’t occur while the fashion industry does nothing to reduce carbon in clothes or take fossil fuels out of the supply chain.

Ultimately, the practice of offshoring fashion manufacturing essentially amounts to offshoring pollution.  Two-thirds of emissions from UK clothing currently occur overseas, this is not acceptable – it cannot be out of sight, out of mind.  It’s time to stop offshoring carbon emissions and start taking responsibility.”

In 2019 Christopher’s family business – David Nieper Ltd commissioned an academic study, which showed that a garment produced at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire emits 47% LESS emissions than a similar garment produced overseas[4].

The report shows the biggest contributing factor to cleaner and more efficient manufacturing in the UK, is due to the lower carbon intensity of electricity supply network.

The UK has significantly lower carbon emissions per unit of electricity compared to overseas fashion production hubs such as China, Bangladesh and Turkey; therefore production in the UK has lower direct carbon emissions – making it a more sustainable manufacturing base.

The report also revealed that energy used in making clothes is dwarfed when compared to the energy used ‘upstream’ in the textile supply chain. Printing and dyeing fabrics accounts for over 70% of the total carbon emissions in garment production.

Following the report, the business has invested £4.5million in a new solar powered fabric print factory to re-shore its supply chain and bring textile manufacturing back to Britain. It is the biggest investment the company has made in sustainable production.

The new facility means that the fashion brand can now print and dye its’ own fabrics, making the entire production process sustainable and 100% traceable. Indeed, this year the majority of David Nieper’s collection will be printed and dyed in Derbyshire, using technology that helps mitigate environmental impact through significant water and energy savings.

Christopher added, “Manufacturing in Britain makes business accountable and allows control over each step of the production process. It also creates much-needed British jobs.

Greta is right – we are the custodians of our planet for future generations.

We can manufacture sustainably in this country and it makes commercial sense to do so.”

-ENDS-

For further information and interviews contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

Images:

• Christopher Nieper
• David Nieper Factory, Derbyshire
• Citarum River, Indonesia featured in BBC Documentary Fashion’s Dirty Secret. Environmental destruction of this area is attributed to local clothing factories which are linked to British high street chains.

[1] https://www.stand.earth/markets-vs-climate/fossil-free-fashion

[2] https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-policy-insight/insight-articles/power-fashion

[3] ONS BRES Survey

[4] https://press.davidnieper.co.uk/academic-study-reveals-uk-manufacturing-is-47-greener/

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Mr David Nieper has died. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, 11 August.

David Nieper established his fashion brand David Nieper Ltd 60 years ago – this year being the diamond anniversary.

The company and people were his life’s passion. Decades of loyal customers inspired him to always go the extra mile in designing and making beautiful clothes in Britain, and he worked tirelessly with his team until his final days.

Over the years the family company has grown from a fledgling business to an international fashion brand employing over 300 staff. In recent years, David focused on the collections and creative direction of the brand, working alongside his son Christopher Nieper OBE, company CEO.

David recorded his memoirs and his fascinating journey in building the David Nieper brand in his book, Persistence Wins published in 2019.

His creativity, flair for style and joie de vivre will live on in his collections to be enjoyed by customers across the globe.

His quick wit and sense of humour will be remembered fondly, by all who knew and worked with him.

David celebrated his 90th birthday last month surrounded by his family. The family and everyone at David Nieper Ltd will miss him enormously.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

Tony Walker CBE DL, former Deputy Managing Director of Toyota and High Sheriff of Derbyshire is to join Derbyshire fashion and textiles firm David Nieper Ltd, as Non-Executive Director as the company enters its 60^th year in business.

Tony’s avid interest manufacturing whilst supporting education and environmental initiates has struck a chord with the textiles firm.

Tony brings a wealth of business acumen and 40+ years British and European manufacturing experience to the position. He has played a key role at national level in automotive and manufacturing affairs representing the sector to government. He was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2018 for services to the motor industry.

Regionally, as the Prince’s Ambassador for Responsible Business for East Midlands, he has been a champion of local business, promoting responsible business practice and supported many educational and environmental initiatives.

David Nieper Ltd. sponsors education at all levels including its local secondary school in its hometown of Alfreton.  The company is also a national leader in environmental best practice, having won a the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development and been awarded British Manufacturer of the Year 2020 by Make UK.

Tony commented:   “I am delighted to join David Nieper as a non-executive board member with a particular involvement in manufacturing. David Nieper is the best sort of company – showing commitment to manufacturing in the UK, to their employees, their community and their customers. They take a long-term approach as demonstrated by their significant investment in new manufacturing facilities and to training and apprenticeships.

I hope to add value to the board, ably led by Christopher, as they build even greater competitiveness to ensure this family business continues to contribute to Alfreton and Derbyshire for many years to come”

Christopher Nieper, CEO David Nieper Ltd commented:

“This is a really exciting time for Tony to join us. This year our company celebrates 60 years in business, manufacturing sustainably in Britain, supporting our local community through developing education and skills, and promoting environmental best practice in fashion and textiles.

I am delighted to welcome Tony and know we’ll all enjoy working with him and benefitting from his considerable manufacturing experience.   I think he might enjoy the world of fashion!”

ENDS

For further information contact:

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

 07904 257687

David Nieper, international fashion brand based in Derbyshire is bringing a much needed jobs and skills boost to the region with a campaign to create 30 new jobs in fashion production, and rollout an extended fashion and textiles apprenticeship programme this year.

This year, the company has a renewed focus on creating sustainable fashion and is recruiting and training more dressmakers to meet consumer demand.  However, as the country slowly emerges from the grips of the pandemic and with social distancing measures still in place, training programmes have also had to change and adapt to comply with restrictions.

Christopher Nieper OBE, CEO David Nieper Ltd commented:

“A sewing machine is no longer enough to train a machinist, today we also need a tablet and GoPro!

I have great admiration for our fantastic team of supervisors, who with over 20 years experience are really getting to grips with new technology to ensure their skills are passed onto the next generation of David Nieper dressmakers.”

The training cycle works on a ‘plan–do –review’ method using videos clips. Cameras are now positioned within the sewing rooms to capture the experienced machinist’s techniques on film, the footage is then be viewed on a tablet, by the trainee to demonstrate best practice.

Christopher continued:

“Job and skills have become a casualty from the pandemic, however with some ingenuity these obstacles can be overcome to allow business to move forward.

As a nation we are seeing mass unemployment with most jobs hugely oversubscribed, yet in textiles recruiting skilled people remains our single biggest problem.  In recent decades the textiles industry in the UK has shrunk beyond recognition, resulting in fewer skilled dressmakers.

However, increasing pressure on government and the industry to support sustainable fashion in the UK, means that British fashion production is now a growth industry, and increasingly offers a wealth of career options.”

David Nieper is looking for dressmakers of all abilities – from experienced seamstresses, to complete beginners, hobby dressmakers and those who wish to totally retrain.

All new-starts will be given on the job training at the David Nieper Sewing Academy to assess abilities and to learn new skills, before they graduate into the sewing rooms.

In addition to the recruitment drive, the company is also preparing to rollout an extended apprenticeship programme.  Last year David Nieper became an officially recognized apprenticeship-training centre, monitored by Ofsted.

With the first apprentice due to complete as Level 2 Sewing Machinist in 2021, the company is extending the apprenticeship programme to include other textiles roles at both Level 2 and Level 3 including; sewing machinist, garment maker, material technologist, material cutters and knitwear technician.

Christopher added: “Derbyshire was once the British heartland of the textiles and our family business is striving to bring this back – we want to create more sustainable jobs, employ local people and make fashion that does not harm the environment.

We believe small towns like Alfreton are bursting with potential, and we are delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for local people to learn a skill and create gainful employment in the area.”

David Nieper will celebrate 60 years in business in 2021, and is one of the largest employers in Alfreton.

For further information on jobs please visit David Nieper careers centre

https://jobs.davidnieper.co.uk

-ENDS-

For further media information contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904257687

British fashion designer David Nieper brings a splash of quintessential English style to the small screen this week, as the designer’s SS2020 photo shoot is featured in Channel 5’s series QE2 – The World’s Most Luxurious Hotel (Friday 7^thAugust, 9pm)

The episode offers a unique glimpse behind the scenes of a fashion shoot on board the world’s most iconic cruise liner, now a maritime museum and floating hotel in the heart of Dubai.

With up to 70 percent of David Nieper customers taking regular cruise holidays, and many of them on QE2 during her hay day, the ship offered a sophisticated, very British and nostalgic backdrop for this season’s collection.

Christopher Nieper, CEO David Nieper Ltd commented:

“We love to forge partnerships with brands that share our values, and with its British heritage the ship has much in common with David Nieper.  Like us, the QE2 is a child of the 60s both brands were born in the golden age of British fashion and manufacturing, a time of big, exciting ideas and revolutionary styling.

It is also quintessentially British with royal ties. Similarly, we’re proudly, thoroughly British, and have a few royal links of our own. Over the years we’ve been visited by HRH The Countess of Wessex and HRH The Princess Royal.”

Built in Scotland in the 1960s as a transatlantic liner, the QE2 began decades of service sailing 5.6million miles and carrying 2.5million passengers. It even transported 3,000 troops and 650 volunteer crewmembers during the Falklands war.

Lorna Kavanagh, Head of Marketing for David Nieper who directed the photo shoot earlier in the year added:

“It was an honour to be part of the documentary charting the history of the QE2.

David Nieper has been renowned for our travel wear for decades and the elegant, nautical surroundings of the ship perfectly framed our collection.

On board we were spoilt for choice in terms of locations for our shoot – from stylish bars, the newly opened Queen’s Grill, a traditional English pub, and even exclusive access to the bow of the ship, which gave us all kinds of different stories to tell.”

For more information on David Nieper collections visit www.davidnieper.co.uk

-ENDS-

For further information contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

Three students from The University of Derby have had their talent recognised and been awarded with a £2000 scholarship, by leading British fashion designer David Nieper.

The second year fashion and textiles students had taken part in the prestigious annual David Nieper Fashion BA and Textile BA Scholarship, part of the company’s on-going commitment to supporting education and driving opportunity in the region.

The awards programme, which was run slightly differently this year due to the national lockdown, was met with no less enthusiasm by students who created a stunning selection of fabrics and fashion designs.

The overall winning student was Georgia Alligan, a textile student who won £1000 for her intricate and wearable knitwear design. Fashion student Caughley Harris was awarded top prize in the fashion category for her Nostalgic Bloomcollection winning £500, and Abigail Wales secured first place for her contemporary textile design for everyday wear also winning £500.

The students had been briefed to take inspiration from artists and designers of their choice to create a capsule collection of four garments – one each for nightwear, evening wear, day wear and travel wear designed specifically for the elegant and discerning older woman.

Christopher Nieper, CEO fashion firm David Nieper Ltd commented:

“It is so important to support these young people in their ambitions. There is a wealth of design talent in Derbyshire and each year the standards get higher – our judging panel faced a difficult task of making a shortlist of finalists.

We were really impressed by the winners’ technical abilities and creative flair. We also look for the attention students have paid to ensuring their designs are sustainable and made from ethically sourced materials. I would like to congratulate all of our talented winners.”

Kay Bolderson, Programme Leader Textile Design at the University of Derby, said:

“Working to the brief of a professional fashion house such as David Nieper gives our students great real life work experience.

We were very impressed by the vision of the students who have been able to create really outstanding designs, which are both incredibly creative and commercially sound. Well done to all of our winners.”

David Nieper works with education at every level to help raise standards and enhance employability of young people across the region.

The company strives to engage with young people at each stage of their education journey; from primary school design competitions, to secondary school work experience programmes, university scholarships for undergraduates, vocational training within the company’s own onsite sewing school and taking the lead in developing industry apprenticeships.

-ENDS-

For media information contact:

 David Nieper Press Office

 [email protected]

 07904 257687

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s speech this week, a Derbyshire businessman who during the Covid 19 crisis converted his fashion business to supply vital PPE, has urged the Prime Minister to put manufacturing at the heart of his ‘New Deal’ for Britain.

Christopher Nieper, Chief Executive David Nieper Ltd, called upon the government to target its massive £238b procurement budget on the UK’s neglected manufacturing sector to both stimulate an industry renaissance and “build, build, build” the home front.

He commented: “Judging by the phenomenal national response of British manufacturers at a time of crisis, the sector is in great shape to help Britain bounce back. We suggest this is the moment where we unleash the power of manufacturing to reboot the economy, through harnessing the full potential of public sector procurement.”

Mr Nieper, who this year switched his factories’ production to making reusable surgical gowns and scrubs for 21 British hospitals, was disheartened to see recent reports that the country is ordering 3 million surgical gowns from China and Cambodia, while the UK jobless total continues to rise.

He continued: “Let’s start rebuilding Britain by adopting a more pro UK delivery and ordering agenda. I’d urge Lord Deighton to set an example and rescind his Cambodian and Chinese orders and buy British. Wouldn’t it be preferable to make these 3 million gowns in the UK and create thousands of jobs at the same time?”

“This is the watershed moment to rethink our national spending. Should we not consider replacing the policy of ‘how cheap can we get it’ with ‘how can we support our own economy in this time of crisis?’

“The government has huge spending power so why not use it to better effect?  It makes no sense to export work to the other side of the world and deny our own country the jobs and investment we so desperately need.

A public procurement test might be a win-win for us all and a foundation stone for Boris to level up Britain.”

For further information on David Nieper visit  https://press.davidnieper.co.uk

ENDS

For further information and interviews with Christopher Nieper contact:

David Nieper, Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

This week, with calls for a ‘green reset’ to industry one Derbyshire businessman operating at heart of PPE production during the crisis, believes the re-launch of British manufacturing is the silver bullet that can boost the economy, protect the environmentwhile continuing to support the NHS.

In March, fashion firm David Nieper Ltd switched production to help the national effort and is now supplying reusable PPE to 21 British hospitals and has just received its biggest order to date.

Christopher Nieper, CEO David Nieper Ltd commented;  “Rebuilding Britain’s manufacturing must be central to the strategy to move out of economic lockdown.

Bringing our manufacturing home can in a single shot, launch our economic future, end this country’s reliance on unsustainable, overseas supply chains andprotect the environment.

Based on our own manufacturing figures and current NHS surgical gown usage, we estimate that we can save 170,000 tonnes CO2 emissions per year, (the equivalent of heating 63,000 households[1]) by making reusable gowns in the UK rather than disposable ones overseas, which is exponentially better for the environment.

And, this is for one line of gowns only. Consider the savings that could be made given the NHS requirements for scrubs, tunics, gloves, visors, aprons, gowns and hoods in such vast quantities.”

The NHS currently uses 150,000 disposable gowns a day, equating to 54.75 million gowns being discarded each year. This synthetic fabric waste could stretch across an area the size of 23,000 football pitches – all going to landfill.

This figure can be cut dramatically by swapping disposable gowns for reusable gowns, which can be washed up to 100 times and safely reworn – reducing both waste generated and associated disposal costs.

Last year, in partnership with the University of Nottingham, David Nieper carried out an [2]academic report into the environmental impact of offshore manufacturing, which concluded that 47% less emissions are created by manufacturing textiles in the UK, in comparison to a similar operation overseas.

Christopher continued; “Our report showed that environmental standards in manufacturing are not the same in all countries, and the carbon intensity of local networks differ enormously.

For example, according to our report a textiles manufacturer in Turkey would typically release around 70% more greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while using the same energy as an operator in the UK.

This figure combined with unreliable supply and quality issues from overseas suppliers makes the current procurement system entirely unsustainable and is   testament to the fact that manufacturing in the UK is much more viable option.

Christopher, whose company has this year been awarded both the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year by MAKE UK, also believes that the fallout from COVID 19 presents a huge business opportunity for British manufacturing.

“Again based on our own manufacturing figures, we estimate that the production of reusable surgical gowns alone could provide a £22 millionboost to the economy per year and support 1000 jobs.

The on-going demand for PPE in the management of the virus is immense. This is an exceptional opportunity that British manufacturers cannot afford to let slip through their fingers.

In the last 30 years we’ve lost two thirds of the UK’s manufacturing capacity, it now represents less than 10% GDP, yet manufacturing sector is one of the highest value adding sector for our economy.

A green jump-start for industry in the form of commitment to British manufacturing can help ensure a safer and more prosperous future for us all.”

-ENDS-

For further media information contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

[1]https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5CB-Infographic-FINAL-.pdf

[2]https://press.davidnieper.co.uk/academic-study-reveals-uk-manufacturing-is-47-greener/