fashion industry

October 22, 2015

A Stitch in Time… Makes Nine New Jobs

The David Nieper fashion house in Alfreton, Derbyshire which employs 230 staff is expanding its new sewing school. 9 recruits… Read More

September 21, 2015

Designing British Fashion for Real Women

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.” Read More

September 3, 2015

David Nieper Launches New 2015 Autumn/Winter Collection

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. 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. Read More

August 3, 2015

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

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. 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.” Read More

May 12, 2015

David Nieper Offers New Apprenticeship

International fashion business teams up with Vision West Nottinghamshire College to train fashion manufacturing stars of the future David Nieper, the British fashion house, that designs and manufactures all its luxury womenswear in Alfreton, Derbyshire, has launched a new apprenticeship. Working in partnership with Vision West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield, David Nieper is to offer an apprenticeship opportunity for a technical operative working in its cutting department. This is a full-time apprentice position with potential for a permanent role and career progression within the rapidly expanding company. The apprentice will learn fabric handling, material cutting and garment make up, as well as training to use cutting equipment and machinery. The company is also offering apprenticeship roles in print, knitwear and design technology. Read More

March 18, 2015

JCB Academy Head Joins David Nieper to Champion Skills in the Fashion and Textiles Industry

Paul Pritchard, instrumental in establishing the JCB Academy, the UK’s first University Technical College, has joined the board of British fashion house, David Nieper, as a non-executive director. His appointment signals David Nieper’s ambitions to take a lead role in regenerating the fashion and textiles industry in the East Midlands, and comes at a time of rapid jobs growth in manufacturing and the UK textiles industry. According to the latest figures from the Alliance Report, more than 20,000 jobs are expected to be created in the UK textiles industry by 2020* – driven by the rising popularity of re-shoring and Made in Britain fashion. Read More

November 25, 2014

Christopher Nieper Interviewed About Designing for 50+ Fashion

Christopher Nieper was interviewed on Ian Skye’s BBC Radio Derby programme, speaking about designing fashion for women over 50. You… Read More

November 4, 2014

Outstanding fashion designer and industry names to address students at ASBCI conference ‘Make it Fashion’

Designer Maria Grachvogel; Jenny Holloway of Fashion Enter, Kate Hills of Make it British; Christopher Nieper of David Nieper; Maggie Stott of Warehouse; and Maxwell Logan of Agent Provocateur The ASBCI is delighted to announce that British fashion designer Maria Grachvogel will be the keynote speaker at its student conference ‘Make it Fashion’ to be held on Wednesday 5th November at Nottingham Trent University. Students from 15 ASBCI member colleges and universities across the UK have been invited to attend the conference to hear the realities of working in fashion from an outstanding line-up of fashion industry names. Joining Maria Grachvogel will be influential speakers from Make it British, Warehouse, Fashion Enter, Agent Provocateur and luxury womenswear label David Nieper. Together they will tackle the made in Britain theme and share their wealth of insider industry and career knowledge to inform and inspire student attendees. Read More

May 28, 2014

David Nieper’s scholarship prompts fashion for 50+ women

The David Nieper scholarship, which is now in its second year, has been extended to include over 200 second year… Read More