British cashmere brand N. Peal to open store in New York

British cashmere brand N. Peal will open its first US store on New York's Madison Avenue on 19 February.

Founded in 1936, N. Peal now has seven standalone stores and is on course for a "stellar 2018", along with other British luxury brands, according to managing director Adam Holdsworth.

“2018 is set to be a stellar year for British luxury brands, and especially for N.Peal. Recent years have seen us open new stores in Piccadilly, Mayfair and Covent Garden and launch a US retail website. We’re proud to announce the introduction of the New York store to the growing N.Peal family, and deliver a slice of British luxury to the US market,” he said.

Nat Peal, founder of the brand, began selling wool sweaters in London's Burlington Arcade, where the brand still has its flagship store. He introduced cashmere into the production process after the Second World War and earned himself the reputation of the "Sweater King of England".

The brand dressed a number of Hollywood stars including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Ava Gardner. It went on to create specially commissioned pieces for James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. Today its garments are made from Mongolian cashmere and designed in London.

“Following a successful 2017, in which sales soared to £15m, the time is right for us to launch our exciting Madison Avenue store that will in turn support online growth,” said Holdsworth, who acquired the business in 2006. “As N.Peal goes from strength to strength, it’s clear that British luxury has a firm hold in the international market, a position that can only increase as heritage brands like N.Peal expand overseas," he said.