PEREGRINE

Wigston Magma, Leicester, UK

PEREGRINE began in 1796 with founder Thomas Glover as a hand-frame weaver. His first son, Thomas, took over the business in 1824. Every Friday, Thomas traveled to Leicester to collect spun wool from the Montfort weaving mill and brought it back to Magma, where he would knit it into sweaters and sell them. In the late 1860s, Thomas's son, Samuel Glover, took over the business from his father and was already employing over 26 people at the Moat Street mill. Samuel's son, Joseph Glover, began working for his father at age 14, and the business grew rapidly. When Joseph's son, John George Glover, joined the business in 1878, the weaving industry was booming in Leicestershire. After a few successful years and a substantial investment in the business, John George Glover established JG Glover & Co Ltd. in 1901. At the beginning of the 20th century, JG Glover began supplying socks to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI). The factory continued to manufacture clothing for the military throughout the First World War. By 1920, JG Glover employed over 300 people and had begun exporting products worldwide. In 1925, following John George's two-week sailing voyage across the Atlantic, JG Glover began trading with the United States. John George's son, Donald Glover, joined the business shortly after, in 1927. When John George died during the Second World War, Donald returned from five years of active service to take over the family business. Donald Glover spent several years at the helm. In 1956, he established the new brand - Peregrine Clothing. And, in the early 1960s, the business moved to a larger, purpose-built factory in Gloucester Crescent, Wigston. In 1971, after graduating from Leicester Knitting School, John Glover (born in 1947) took the reins and became managing director. Throughout the 1970s, Peregrine began manufacturing clothes for BHS and other department stores. By the late 1980s, department stores were looking abroad for cheaper products, and in 1987, Peregrine moved to a smaller manufacturing facility and concentrated on quality English-made products that were exported overseas. After graduating in Design in 2003, Tom Glover (born in 1980) joined the business. Tom renamed Peregrine soon after, giving the business a fresh, new look. While our factory is still based in Manchester, our new headquarters are in Montpelier, Bristol, where we are constantly seeking to design new, high-quality knitwear.