Charnos

founded by

Charles Noskwith

belongs to

Charnos Group

about

Charnos was created in 1935 by Charles Noskwith and started originally as a company selling and manufacturing hosiery at Ilkeston in Derbyshire, England, which remains the location of the head office. The company maintained its position in the market through embracing new technology developments such as nylon after WWII and the more recent introduction of Lycra. Today, the company is recognised as one of the main UK manufacturers of hosiery, producing over 1 million pairs of tights per week and having a prominent presence in the leading UK department store groups. It then moved into the area of knitwear producing mainly for Marks and Spencer. Charnos diversified into lingerie in the 50s, mainly producing slips using fine woven and knitted laces. Bra production quickly followed and now accounts for over 50 per cent of the lingerie company turnover. Today, the Charnos brand is widely recognised as a superbly fitting, fashionable and feminine lingerie collection. One of the largest independent textile companies in the United Kingdom, annual turnover amounts to £90m. Members of the founding family still own and direct the company.