Cashmere specialist N.Peal, which has its headquarters in Skipton and has counted James Bond and Marilyn Monroe among its customers, has opened its first US store in Madison Avenue, New York, in the heart of the city’s luxury retail district.

Managing director Adam Holdsworth, said: “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.”

Dating back to 1936, N.Peal is one of Britain’s most iconic luxury brands, and now has seven stores. Its founder, Nat Peel, was stationed in the Shetland Isles while in the military, and the high quality of wool produced from the island’s sheep inspired him to launch his own range of luxury clothing. He began selling the sweaters in the flagship Burlington Arcade store in Mayfair.

After the Second World War, Natl introduced cashmere to his collection, cementing his position as the ‘Sweater King of England’.

The British brand subsequently gained a cult following in the US with stars from Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner to Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant among its fans. More recently, the makers of the Bond franchise commissioned a series of bespoke cashmere jumpers for 007 to wear in the 2012 film Skyfall and 2015 Spectre.

N.Peal’s luxury cashmere knitwear and accessories are still designed in London and made with only the finest cashmere, carefully selected from Mongolian goats, to ensure the highest quality knitwear.

Holdsworth added: “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.

“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.”