Peregrine is a British menswear brand founded in 1796 by Thomas Glover in Leicestershire, making it one of the oldest continuously operating clothing manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Now in its eighth generation of family ownership and based in Manchester, Peregrine produces knitwear, outerwear, and classic British menswear staples from wool sourced just a few miles from its factory — a supply chain so short and so British that it represents an almost vanishingly rare survival of integrated British textile manufacture.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1796
- Founder: Thomas Glover
- Headquarters: Bristol, UK (Montpelier); Factory: Manchester
- Industry: British Menswear, Knitwear, Heritage Apparel
History and Heritage
Peregrine began as a knitwear operation in Leicestershire — the centre of the British hosiery and knitwear industry — in 1796, making warm garments for a clientele that needed practical, durable clothing. Over more than two centuries and eight family generations, the business evolved and eventually relocated to Manchester, where it continues to operate. The brand uses wool farmed near its factory, maintaining a farm-to-garment supply chain that is virtually unique in contemporary British fashion.
Peregrine’s longevity places it in an extraordinary historical context: the company was founded before the French Revolution reached its final stages, when the Industrial Revolution was just beginning to transform British manufacturing. It has survived two centuries of industrial change, two World Wars, and the near-total collapse of British textile manufacturing — remaining not just alive but making genuinely excellent knitwear and outerwear in the UK.
Aesthetic and Product
Peregrine produces knitwear — chunky Aran-influenced sweaters, fine-gauge crew and V-necks in merino and lambswool — alongside outerwear in British wool and other natural fibres, and classic menswear accessories. The brand sits firmly within the British heritage menswear tradition, occupying similar territory to Barbour’s waxed cotton or Margaret Howell’s natural fabrics, but with an even deeper manufacturing heritage. Available through the brand’s own online store and select British and international stockists.
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