3:1
OUR STORY
At the heart of David Nieper lies a love story – one that started a new chapter in 1961 when David Nieper founded the company with his best friend and wife, Rosemary.
Known affectionately as Roe, she was the inspiration behind their beautiful, elegant nightwear and clothing. Together, they shared a vision for creating something that was, in his own words, “rather special”.
A fashion heritage
David Nieper, like his father before him, had been in fashion all his life. His designs were hugely popular from the outset. Boutiques all over the country snapped up his creations, and John Lewis was one of the first department stores to place an order.
Before long, the David Nieper label could be found in over 400 stores across the country, including iconic destinations like Harrods and Selfridges.
But it wasn’t just the designs that captured people’s attention – it was the way David, Roe and her team brought them to life. She and her close-knit group of talented seamstresses took pride in every stitch using fine fabrics like pure Swiss Cotton, and thoughtful finishing touches like hand-made bows that made all the difference.
3:2
1:1
Joanna Lumley
Even a young Joanna Lumley recognised the artistry. At just 19, she modelled for our first colour photoshoot, and still remembers it fondly, telling us “The clothes were so lovely and well made.”
Our story took a leap forward in the 1980s, when we made it possible for our customers to buy direct rather than from shops and boutiques. Our catalogues went from strength to strength, and we rapidly became known for our exceptional customer service. Back then (as they still are today) our studio, sewing rooms and customer service were all under one roof. It meant that everyone who answered the phone knew the clothes intimately and shared the same passion for making every customer feel special.
3:1
Gentle on the planet
Sustainability and good environmental practices have always mattered to us, long before it was fashionable. We were delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2020, the first British fashion manufacturer to have won it.
We are proud to have a team of over 250 extremely talented and loyal staff. Many have been with us for decades, and we were all excited and honoured when Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh visited in 2018.
Today, the commitment to quality that guided David Nieper lives on in everything we make. Every piece we create is designed with you in mind. We aim to make clothes that fit and flatter and offer luxurious comfort. To achieve that, we carefully consider every fabric, seam, button and detail.
Our Director of Design, Louise joined David Nieper in 2012 after honing her skills at Marks & Spencer. She combines a keen eye for fashion with deep technical expertise. Her love of timeless styles shines through in every collection of well cut, well made and comfortable clothes for all of life’s moments, from a trip to the shops to a family celebration.
primary
primary
A Legacy of Leadership
At the helm is David and Roe’s eldest son, Christopher. He brings a spirit of adventure, having sailed the Atlantic at the age of 19. Before he joined the company in 1986, he had set up his own successful furniture repair business which gave him his leadership and commercial skills as well as a deep appreciation of craftsmanship Christopher believes in empowering everyone to be the best they can be, and he is passionate about nurturing talent and passing on skills. He blazed a trail setting up a nationally recognised apprenticeship scheme to train the next generation of talented makers. In 2020 he was honoured with an OBE for services to UK manufacturing and apprenticeship development. Read more
Through The Christopher Nieper Education Trust he has helped transform local schools, creating opportunities that have enabled over 1,200 young people to thrive. His innovative approach is now inspiring similar successes nationwide. Read more
It’s all part of our belief that when we all do our best, wonderful things can happen.
Hand-finished knitwear
Recent years have been just as exciting. We started making our own fully fashioned, handcrafted knitwear in 2017 and opened an on-site fabric print facility two years later to print fabrics with our own exclusive patterns.
Like all our in-house production, it runs on renewable energy, and the process uses far less water than conventional printing. Plus, by being printed and sewn in England, it reduces the ‘fashion miles’ that each piece has to travel to get to your door - and of course, we have complete control over the quality.
primary