A CASHMERE specialist which has clothed icons such as James Bond and Marilyn Monroe - is opening its first store in the US with the launch of a branch in New York.

Beamsley-based N. Peal has had a cult following in America for many years, and its creations have been worn by stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Ava Gardner.

Now it is cementing its presence there with the opening this week of its store at 952 Madison Avenue - in the heart of the Big Apple’s luxury retail district.

With a history going back to 1936, the specialist cashmere retailer is one of Britain’s most iconic luxury brands, with its jumpers worn by Hollywood stars, and featuring in the Bond films.

The company, run by Yorkshire entrepreneur Adam Holdsworth, will now have a total of seven stores.

Mr 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.”

The company’s founder Nat Peel, was inspired to launch his own range of British luxury clothing after being stationed in the Shetland Isles while in the military. Noticing the high quality of wool produced from Shetland sheep, he began using it for sweaters which he sold in Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade .

The N.Peal brand soon gained a cult following in the United States, with stars of the silver screen sporting the iconic cashmere knits.

Its movie star allure hasn’t dimmed over the years, with the makers of the Bond franchise commissioning a series of specially-made cashmere jumpers for the quintessential British superspy James Bond in the 2012 film Skyfall and 2015 Spectre.

Today, N.Peal’s luxury knitwear and accessories are designed in London and made with cashmere carefully selected from Mongolian goats.

“Following a successful 2017, in which sales soared to £15 million, the time is right for us to launch our exciting Madison Avenue store that will in turn support online growth,” Mr Holdsworth said.

The launch is also a personal success for Holdsworth, who bought the business in 2006, quickly rebuilding the brand by focusing on its British heritage and high-quality supply chain.

“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.