Latest Press Releases & News

Designing British Fashion for Real Women

Posted on by

In this official season of celebrating British fashion, with London Fashion Week taking place 18 – 22 September, Derbyshire fashion house David Nieper has launched this season’s contemporary new collection and revealed some of the top styling techniques being used ‘behind the scenes’ in the Design Studio that helps to create great British fashion for the over 50s.

David Nieper is a family run business who have been designing and manufacturing in the UK for over 50 years. The company designs specifically for the ever increasing age 50+ market and every season their collection is responsive to the changing needs of older women, with a commitment to exceptional cut and fit.

The design team led by Head Designer, Elizabeth Edwards, who has worked closely with many well-known brands and designers including Jean Muir, Betty Jackson and Mulberry, prioritises styles and shapes that enhance the more mature figure, while incorporating the latest colour palettes, shapes and influences from the British catwalks.

Elizabeth commented:

“Our customers are very fashion conscious and love luxurious, high quality, timeless style. In the design team, we work closely with pattern cutters and merchandisers and know instinctively what suits and enhances the 50+ figure, while reflecting the latest trends.

Our focus is to give customers all the confidence they need to feel great in their clothes. At David Nieper we also offer a bespoke service so that customers with specific requirements can have their garments cut and tailored accordingly.”
Continue reading →

When will ‘Made in Britain’ be back in fashion?

Posted on by

On the eve of this year’s London Fashion Week (18-22 September) British Fashion House, David Nieper, asks the fashion industry ‘When will ‘Made in Britain’ be back in fashion?

Decades of offshore fashion manufacturing has shrunk the UK fashion industry beyond recognition since its heyday in the sixties and seventies, although today there are signs of revival in fashion and textile manufacturing. Derbyshire based, fashion house David Nieper calls for more designers to support the industry and bring more manufacturing back to the UK.

According to the Alliance report* the gradual repatriation of fashion companies moving their manufacturing back to the UK is resulting in welcome industry growth, however the majority of UK fashion labels still manufacture overseas.

David Nieper is a family run business set up in 1961 to create luxury ‘Made in Britain’ clothes, all collections are designed, and manufactured in Derbyshire. Each and every garment made is cut, stitched, packaged and personally hand signed by the person that has made it.
Continue reading →

David Nieper opens new ‘cutting-edge’ factory in Alfreton

Posted on by

The David Nieper fashion house held the official opening of its new cutting factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire.

The family run business established in 1961, employs over 230 people locally including designers, dressmakers and garment cutters and has now invested in state-of-the-art new facilities for their fabric cutting team, to help meet the ever increasing demand for ‘Made in Britain’ fashion.

With an investment of £750,000 the company has bought, adapted and equipped this additional factory. Over 100 staff and guests attended the opening to wish the 15 strong ‘cutting’ team well in their new workplace.

This purpose designed fabric cutting facility includes fabric warehouse, state of the art fabric examination, fabric relaxation and fabric cutting alongside lace cutting and other preparations to prepare all the components for making a garment.

David
Continue reading →

David Nieper Launches New 2015 Autumn/Winter Collection

Posted on by

Made in Britain fashion house David Nieper has unveiled its new collection of fashions for the autumn/winter season, featuring elegant styles beautifully cut from an array of flattering and luxurious fabrics.

Designing and manufacturing in the UK for over 50 years, David Nieper design collections specially with the 50+ woman in mind, with a commitment to exceptional cut and fit that beautifully contours in a flattering silhouette.

The new season’s luxurious range has been beautifully tailored in rich autumnal shades, contemporary pastels and jewel coloured Liberty prints. The fabrics have been twinned with super-soft yarns in fine Merino wool and Cashmere, offering a collection with something to suit every occasion.

Moonshadow                      7718 9180 9022 - Powder Blue Textured Wool Knee coat_039                         4413 - Floral Fusion Print Mock Wrap Dress_040

Following visits to New York, Paris and Florence by the design team this year, inspiration for the new collection has been born from themes as diverse as Bohemian Rhapsody, Candy Crush, To the Manor Born, Folk Tales and Print Works.
Continue reading →

‘Made in Britain’ Fashion House David Nieper has Skills Sewn Up

Posted on by

The David Nieper fashion house in Derbyshire is addressing the textile industry’s skills deficit by supporting and nurturing local talent, and has set up a sewing school to help pass specialist tailoring and dressmaking skills to a younger generation.

According to the British Fashion Council, 60% of workers in fashion and textile manufacturing are over the age of 40. If we are to reverse the offshore production trend that is prevalent in the industry, we need to recruit and train before the skills are lost forever.

Photography by Roy Riley 0781 6547063www.royriley.co.ukDavid Nieper

David Nieper has been loyal to British skills and British manufacture for over 50 years and is one of the very few UK fashion houses that has never gone offshore to source labour from the Far East.

The new sewing school will be run by two of David Nieper’s most accomplished dressmakers; Carol Shaw with 14 years’ experience at David Nieper and Sue Cook with 27 years’ experience; responsible for design room sampling and advanced sewing techniques.

Starting this month, the school opens with its first four trainees aged from 18, including two school leavers and two more experienced ladies changing career. Sewing for a career is new to all trainees who will learn a multitude of practical skills over the 12 weeks course.

Carole Shaw, Senior Supervisor, David Nieper Sewing Room commented:

“Our trainees will start by getting to know their machines and develop thread control. They will learn dressmaking essentials including cross-stitch, overlock, lockstich and bar tacking. We start with paper patterns to learn the basic principles then progress to a range of different fabrics including; cottons, silks, elastics and wools and learn how to work with each.

Many seamstresses in clothes manufacturing only make one part of a garment e.g. a leg, arm or collar on a production line but our trainees will benefit from learning how to make the whole garment. At the end of the course we are hoping to offer jobs to trainees who have demonstrated a good eye, good coordination and a good aptitude for creating fashion in luxury fabrics.”

Continue reading →

Heather Jacks Judges Derbyshire Schools Young Fashion Talent

Posted on by

Heather Jacks winner of BBC2’s the Great British Sewing Bee judges Derbyshire schools young fashion talent

Four Derbyshire school children have been crowned winners of this year’s David Nieper, Fashion for Free! schools’ design competition, and were today awarded with their prizes by Heather Jacks winner of BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee.

BBC2 Sewing Bee winner Heather Jacks is guest speaker and judge at this year’s event. Photo by Fabio De Paola

BBC2 Sewing Bee winner Heather Jacks is guest speaker and judge at this year’s event.
Photo by Fabio De Paola


Continue reading →

Better Buy British…Because it’s the Best

Posted on by

“Don’t buy British, just because it’s British…buy British because it’s the best” was the message delivered by Christopher Nieper, Managing Director of Derbyshire based fashion house David Nieper at a fashion industry event attended by over 3,000 people last week in Tobacco Dock, East London.

Christopher was one of an illustrious collection of fashion designers and industry personalities including; Nigel Cabourn, Dr Martens, Emma Willis, Patrick Grant (BBC 2 Great British Sewing Bee) and Caroline Rush, CEO, The British Fashion Council who spoke at the ‘Make it British – Meet the Manufacturer’ event.

Christopher used his speech to explain how his company benefits from ‘Made in Britain’ he commented:

“Customers like to know where their clothes are made and there is a tremendous appetite for well made good quality British fashion.”

The speakers agreed that the ‘offshore’ trend might be reversed to ‘re-shore’ with a modern efficient manufacturing sector producing high quality British fashion.

Christopher & Heather Mills

Continue reading →

Nottingham Trent University Student Wins David Nieper Scholarship, £1,000 Prize and Made in Britain Fashion Placement

Posted on by

In front of crowd of fashionistas, industry peers, family and friends, Sarah Redman, from Wall Heath in the West Midlands, a second-year fashion design student at Nottingham Trent University was crowned winner of the David Nieper scholarship.

Sarah-Redman

Surprised on the night with the David Nieper scholarship trophy, £1,000 in prize money and a placement at the British fashion house, Sarah’s stunning designs for stylish older women were celebrated as well as her interest and commitment to ethical and sustainable fashion.
Continue reading →

University of Derby student scoops David Nieper scholarship and £1,000 prize

Posted on by

University of Derby textile design student, Emily Rose Cornthwaite, from Cockermouth, Cumbria has won a prestigious David Nieper scholarship – the first-ever scholarship awarded to a University of Derby student by the British fashion house.

Presented in front of over five hundred students and their families at the University of Derby’s graduate fashion show at Derby Theatre, Emily was awarded her scholarship trophy and £1,000 prize money by Christopher Nieper, Managing Director of David Nieper.

Emily-Rose-Cornthwaite
Continue reading →

Best of British to Speak at Meet the Manufacturer

Posted on by

Christopher Nieper joins line-up for Meet the Manufacturer 2015

Christopher Nieper, managing director of luxury British fashion house, David Nieper, will be speaking on day one of the Meet the Manufacturer conference in June.

christopher_factory

Aimed at bringing about the return of the manufacturing of clothing and textiles to the UK, the two-day conference and trade event will take place on 3 and 4 June 2015 at Tobacco Dock, London.

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the event which will be opened by Patrick Grant, creative director of Norton & Sons and E. Tautz and presenter of The Great British Sewing Bee.

Organised by Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, the campaign for British manufacturing, the Meet the Manufacturer line-up of speakers includes leading manufacturers, fashion brands and industry experts, including Jermyn Street shirt maker, Emma Willis MBE and David Suddens, chairman of Dr Martens.  Along with Christopher Nieper, the inspiring speakers will provide advice and real-life experiences of building British businesses, developing the skills for future generations and how to successfully manufacture in the UK.
Continue reading →