Yarns have been spinning and spools have been whirring at the David Nieper fashion house in Derbyshire this week, as the knitwear team cast off their 100,000^th garment.

Over 30 years Britain has lost 85% of its’ textile jobs to offshore production and when the last of David Nieper’s British suppliers closed in the wake of the last recession, David Nieper, determined to keep jobs in Britain opened their own facility. Confident in customer’s appetite for British made goods they purchased brand new machines, trained staff from scratch and opened one of the few genuinely new knitwear production units in Britain for a generation.

The family business established in 1961 has always been loyal to British skills and today their knitwear division accounts for up to 20% of their fashion garments, made in Cashmere and luxury merino wools.

David Nieper sells employs 250 staff designing and making fashion for private customers within the UK and overseas. The current knitwear collection features over 70 different styles in sizes 10-28, all crafted by a team of 12 specialists, with a combined 150 years’ experience in knitwear production.

Luxury Lambswool, Merino and Cashmere sourced from sustainable stocks are the staple yarns of the knitwear collection, which are skilfully spun into a range contemporary designs and classic styles.

The David Nieper knitwear range has enduring appeal with customers. The Wedgewood Blue, Cable Roll Neck jumper in 100% Lamb’s wool has been a star design for several years; the classic and timeless styling making it one of the company’s best loved and best selling garments each year.

Debbie Gibson, Head knitwear supervisor commented:

“We have a team of skilled knitwear specialists with a very high level of technical ability taking huge pride in their work. Even one of our most simple styles has over 500,000 stiches which we knit faithfully to replicate the creative designs from our fashion studio.

Once each garment has been knitted, individual panels must be treated to uncurl and then linked together before dying, seaming and bar tacking. This is followed by a detailed examination before the garment is washed, dried, pressed and the neck trims cut, split and hand linked in the traditional way. Finally, each garment is lock-stitched prior to hand finishing, pressing for the second time and being examined for perfect quality.”

Christopher Nieper, Managing Director David Nieper commented:

“It was a bold move to bring knitwear in house, however in 2010 we seized the opportunity to produce high quality British knitwear at a time when consumers were turning away from mass produced, synthetic products and looking for more authentic knitwear in natural fibres.

Britain’s heritage as a manufacturer of textiles and yarns cannot be underestimated.  ‘Made in Britain’ is a unique, trusted brand proposition Internationally, and, especially now with Brexit and a weak GBP we need to create local jobs and develop local British skills.”

The David Nieper company has always gone the extra mile to prioritize provenance and integrity in the production process of clothes made in their factory. All collections are designed and manufactured from the fashion house in Derbyshire, with relentless commitment to the exceptional quality of each garment sold.

It is a long standing custom in the company that every single piece of clothing made is fastened with a swing-tag signed by the people who make it – from the seamstress, to the person that examines, presses and packs for each customer, worldwide.

-ENDS-

For further information contact

David Nieper Press Office

[email protected]

07904 257687

Alfreton’s secondary school has started a new chapter in its long history with a new name, a new sponsor, a new Headteacher, a new uniform and a brand new school building under construction for 850 children.

The ‘David Nieper Educational Trust’ is one of Derbyshire’s most ambitious and innovative educational ventures and one of Britain’s few privately sponsored Academy Trusts.

Faced with the near extinction of British textile skills and its local school ranked amongst the weakest 2% of all British secondary schools, this 55 year-old family company decided to help.

David Nieper Ltd. is a family business, an International fashion brand and one of Alfreton’s largest and longest standing employers.   It is one of very few fashion companies to remain loyal to British skills for over 5 decades and has never followed the trend in manufacturing overseas.

The vision of the Trust is to transform this failing secondary school, described by Ofsted as “woeful”.  The Trust’s aim is to build a community school where local employers and educators work together. It will offer first class academic support and give children a privileged connection with local employers and a career enriched curriculum intended to lead to jobs, apprenticeships or a head-start in further education at college or University.

The new ‘David Nieper Academy’ opened this term but in January will move into a brand new £15M, state-of-the-art school building with capacity to accommodate 850 students with superb new facilities and equipment.

The newly appointed Headteacher Dr. Kathryn Hobbs, brings National experience from an extensive career in many excellent British schools.  Dr. Hobbs commented:

“This is an exciting time to be joining the school; it is a brand new start with fantastic opportunities for both students and teaching staff.  GCSE results for 2016 have already picked up and the mood amongst staff and children is excellent”

Christopher Nieper, Chair of Trustees and founder of the David Nieper Education Trust commented:

“Our company is hugely privileged to be sponsoring this school and its deserving children. Our aim is to create a good or outstanding school of which the community can be proud, and for the David Nieper Academy to be a National exemplar in employer school partnerships.”

ENDS

For further information contact

David Nieper Press Office

Lauraine Jordan 07904 257687

[email protected]

Derbyshire fashion house David Nieper, has unveiled their new Autumn/Winter collection for 2016. Each season the company creates a luxury collection of outerwear and nightwear tailored exclusively for 50+ woman, designed with a commitment to exceptional cut and fit. This season’s new collection is a celebration of colour and vivid contemporary prints, twinned with the finest fabrics and luxurious knitwear.

David Nieper is a family run business which has been designing and manufacturing in the UK for 55 years and is wholly committed to British manufacturing. Taking inspiration from catwalk trends in London, Paris and New York, each garment is designed and made from initial sketch to final stich on site in Derbyshire, the traditional heartland of the UK’s textiles industry.

The new season’s range has been beautifully created in a rich, jewel coloured palette with bold colour blocks and eye-catching prints in a figure flattering collection. The range features both smart, casual looks for the day and elegantly styled silhouettes for nights out and occasions.

Head of Design, Elizabeth Edwards commented: “The Autumn/Winter collection is always a favourite with our design team. This season there is an emphasis on creating a beautiful silhouette and an opportunity to experiment with rich patterned fabrics. The soft winter yarns also allow us to feature the vibrant splashes of colour that we know our customers love. We have included a combination of relaxed and elegant styles with a contemporary, modern twist and a luxurious selection of knitwear.”

With some exceptional winter warmers for 2016, the knitwear collection has been in woven in vibrant colour from sapphire to amethyst and ruby, using the finest Merino, Angora and Cashmere wools. Designer favourites include a rich red Merino wool dress with an on-trend rib effect skirt; a classically styled and textured, puppy-tooth check Merino wool cardigan in rich purple, and a rosebud pink, gently fitted, turtle neck in a pretty Marl yarn.

Also, new for this year is a rich Liberty print gilet, luxuriant and warm in soft wool fleece and versatile with a reversible classic grey lining. Liberty print has also been extended throughout the collection in a Filigree, silk over-shirt, cut with generous sleeves and satin finish, and in a popular flared, Needle cord skirt.

The design team has also included some capsule ranges in striking contemporary prints; the Winter Trellis print with cool winter colours set against classic black is incredibly versatile and available across a range of garments including a soft jersey dress, tunic and flared skirt.

Similarly, a contrasting black and cream print with tiny, cubed flecks gives a striking look for day or night, and is also available in an elegant jersey dress, tunic and skirt. Another favourite, is a stunning jersey dress in rich Damson, bias cut and with beautiful neckline detail giving an effortlessly glamourous look for an evening or a special occasion.

-ENDS-

For further media information contact:

David Nieper, Press Office, Lauraine Jordan

Tel: 07904 257687

[email protected]

Derbyshire fashion house, David Nieper has this month experienced strong post Brexit demand and has taken the decision to increase production to help meet sales demand. Customers from the UK, EU and further afield are still ordering and the company is investing in the future with more equipment and creating more local jobs.

The majority of the new jobs will be sewing machinists who will join the David Nieper sewing school to hone their skills during an intensive 6 month training course.   The new recruits, once trained will target a 10%-15% increase in production for the company, which produces 3,000 garments every week.

The business is also making a substantial investment in a new high speed mailing line at one of its Derbyshire factories. David Nieper currently mails 9 million fashion brochures to its private clients, one third of which are in French, German or Dutch language for its private clients in Europe, the new line will double the productivity.

Christopher Nieper, Managing Director of David Nieper commented: “The weaker GBP is a shot of adrenalin for British exporters and I hope this will encourage more companies to manufacture in Britain and develop British skills. This might be the opportunity to reverse the ‘offshoring’ trend and bring fashion production back to the UK.

“One month on from the referendum, there is still a tremendous appetite for quality British fashion. Our European customers account for one third of our sales and we will shortly be launching our new collections for Autumn/ Winter 2016. The new range will be supported with television advertising in both France and Germany and we have assured our European customers they can purchase the same beautifully tailored styles at the same prices, irrespective of Brexit.

David Nieper is a family run business and this year celebrates its 55^th anniversary. The company employs 250+ staff in Derbyshire with offices in France, Germany and Holland. David Nieper buys fabrics in Europe, employs sales staff in Europe, has one third of its customers in Europe yet manufactures everything at its factories in Britain with the best of British skills.22

EU Referendum Result Statement

Independence day! This is history in the making and Britain can at last take back control of its destiny.

Britain is a great place to do business, we have the huge advantage of a thriving entrepreneurial culture, the world’s 5^th largest economy and English being the world’s business language.

Today is a catalyst for the re-shaping of politics both here in Britain and within the EU for the benefit of all member states. Today Britain took the initiative and we now have the chance to make our own trade deals and to welcome the brightest and best to our country from anywhere in the world. Democracy is back, we can set our own taxes and make our own laws with our own elected government.

What next? We must rebuild confidence everywhere to secure the future of Britain and our EU neighbours. I would suggest our government doesn’t instigate article 50 immediately and start with informal negotiations with our European partners. We are still a member of the EU at this point so can start these negotiations from the inside. The very best arrangements are always a win-win for both sides and our relationship with the EU is surely the same. We need the EU, they need us and it’s in both our interests to co-operate for mutual benefit.

Here at David Nieper, it’s business as usual. We have a very full order-book, confidence is high and we must do our part to create a high skill, high added value and high wage economy for Britain. Customers worldwide choose British design, British made and British quality.

We have nothing to fear.

Some of Derbyshire’s best young design talent was recognised, when over 80 children from 5 local Derbyshire Primary schools visited the David Nieper fashion house in Alfreton, for the final judging of the 2016 Fashion for Free! school’s design competition.

In the ‘Most Creative Entry’ category, Erin Campion, from Mundy Church of England school won 1^st prize for her topsy-turvy doll design. Constance Curran from Leys Junior school was awarded with 2^nd prize for her fairy wings and skirt outfit and Jensen Brody from Woodbridge school was given 3^rd place for his pirate costume.

In the ‘Well Made’ category, Aliana Rosochacki from Christ the King school was given 1^st place for her mermaid bag, Jasmin Saltmarsh also from Christ the King school was awarded 2^nd place for her Pinocchio outfit and Daisy Cook from Mundy Church of England school was in 3^rd place with her dog coat.

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To: David Nieper UK employees and David Nieper Academy and Education Trust.

16th June, 2016

EU Referendum

Our company has become a sought after battleground for the forthcoming EU referendum. We are a long term British fashion manufacturer and employer with significant European sales. We have staff in the EU, we buy fabrics in the EU and we have 50,000 private customers in the EU.

Media coverage from our factory during the month of May alone has reached over 18 million British people and this has included televised visits from:

Remain:  Anna Soubry MP (Conservative) Minister of state for small business, Industry and Enterprise, and Alan Johnson MP (Labour) former home secretary, leader of Labour IN

Leave:      Boris Johnson MP (Conservative) former London Mayor and Gisela Stuart MP (Labour) chair of Vote leave
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David Nieper, a Derbyshire based fashion manufacturing business that designs and manufactures luxury women’s clothes put down its needles and thread and built an EU red tape mountain. The mountain of paper reaches from factory floor to ceiling and was created as a discussion point for visiting Minister of State for Small Business and Enterprise, Anna Soubry MP who supports the ‘Remain’ campaign.

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University of Derby Students Win David Nieper Scholarship

In front of crowd of fashionistas at the University of Derby’s Big Fashion Show event, two students from the University of Derby have been crowned winners of this year’s David Nieper scholarship. Maddie Forester took first prize in the textile design category, and Freya Whittaker was awarded first prize in fashion design. Fellow students Emma Fenton, Annabel Eaton and Lucy Francis were all presented with runner-up places.

Over 100 students competed to win the prestigious David Nieper scholarship which challenged them to design a fashion collection to dress the older woman, a market often neglected by the fashion industry. As part of their mandatory portfolio project, students were briefed to create a sample collection of four garments one each for nightwear, evening wear, day wear and travel wear.

As part of the scholarship challenge, Maddie and Freya along with other students from their year spent a day at David Nieper in Alfreton, Derbyshire touring the design studios and meeting the Made in Britain fashion house’s  staff – gaining a rare and real-life insight into a company that designs and manufacturers all its clothing in the UK.

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David Nieper employees had a rare opportunity to put democracy into action this week, when former London Mayor Boris Johnson, visited the fashion house on Monday as part of his Brexit campaign to leave the EU.

Over 250+ David Nieper staff gathered to listen to his speech and ask questions to both Boris and Gisela Stuart MP about the potential consequences of a Brexit, alongside a media entourage of over 50 national press and television crews from all over the country.

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