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The history of Pretty Polly
In 1919 two manufacturing technicians, Harry Hibbert and Oswald Buckland formed a hosiery company in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, (the same site on which Pretty Polly stands today) to manufacture and sell ladies stockings. In 1927, Hibbert and Buckland took over a hosiery wholesaling company originally set up by a bookmaker's daughter. The bookmaker had prospered greatly from the legendary racehorse, Pretty Polly, and so insisted that his daughter's business bear the same name. Having acquired the name Pretty Polly, Hibbert and Buckland quickly built up the brand name under the famous parrot trade mark. During the period, silk and rayon seamless stockings were in vogue, with fully fashioned stockings first appearing in 1924.

Nylon, invented in 1937, revolutionized the hosiery industry. The first Nylon stockings were knitted under top secret conditions in the U.S. before the invention was officially announced a year later. Nylons first went on sale in 1940, restricted to 3 pairs per customer. The initial stock of 4 million pairs in the U.S. was sold out in four days .1 Meanwhile Hibbert and Buckland had achieved an excellent reputation for high quality. Between 1932 and 1938, annual sales of fine gauge hosiery increased to over 48 million pairs in the U.K. After the Second World War, Hibbert and Buckland expanded, helped by the introduction of Nylon.

In 1959 Pretty Polly introduced the first ever non-run seam free stockings. In March 1967 Pretty Polly invented and launched Hold Ups. These were instantly successful, freeing women from suspender belts. The product was such an overnight success that Pretty Polly became the number one selling brand in the U.K. Also in 1967, Pretty .Polly launched new one size stockings. These were followed in 1968 by the Pretty Polly one piece tight, an overwhelming success with the advent of the mini skirt.

The birth of the maxi skirt and revival of denim jeans in the early 1970's dictated a need for a different hosiery product. Pretty Polly responded with the Sheer Knee High. Throughout the decade Pretty Polly remained the hosiery innovator introducing the first low cost high quality Support Tights, the first tights with knitted in contrasting polyester body and cotton gusset, the first lightweight control brief, the first tights with combined control top and sheer support leg, the first Super Lightweight Support Tights in 15 denier nylon.

Through the eighties, women's interest in hosiery increased as it became an even more important part of the fashion wardrobe, particularly with the strong trend towards sheerer hosiery. In 1982 Pretty Polly introduced Lycra into their 15 denier range and were the first hosiery brand to successfully combine ultrafine bare Lycra with a fine denier textured yam giving a much improved fit for fashion hosiery.

In 1988, Pretty Polly launched 'Nylons' with phenomenal success. The brand provided a glamorous sheen, a sheer look and Lycra for a great fit. Today it continues to be a number one best seller. A year later Pretty Polly developed their finest sheer hosiery - 5 denier - The first company in the world to produce hosiery in this denier. By the late '80's, fashion trends were to include textured tights. In 1987, Pretty Polly introduced 40 denier Opaques, later followed by heavier deniers as their popularity grew. In 1991 Pretty Polly created a world first by developing the use of microfibres in both sheer and opaque hosiery.

Advertising and marketing have always played an important part in building the Pretty Polly brand. Press campaigns have been used regularly throughout Pretty Polly's history together with famous poster campaigns. Pretty Polly is also notable for its innovative use of television advertising beginning in 1980 with the first ever hosiery campaign. Pretty Polly has since consistently backed its ranges with memorable TV ads including Nylons, Legacy and most recently the stylish Legworks campaign.

The beginning of 1996 saw glamour and fashion return to Pretty Polly with thintroduction of Italia - offering Italian luxury, sophistication and styling in a range of beautifully finished products. Opaques - a comprehensive range of tights, stockings and hold ups in a variety of textures and deniers to suit a wide target audience. With many different styles to choose from in the current range, Pretty PoIIy have a proven track record of innovation, consistently producing stylish products of the highest quality to meet consumer demand. Backed by continuing investment in machinery and yam technology, and supported by creative marketing campaigns, Pretty Polly the U.K.'s leading brand is committed to producing the very best in hosiery.

In 1996 PP made headline news with the first ever vertical poster advertisements. The "Long Legs campaign was instrumental in putting the image and glamour back into Pretty Polly brand, the most famous name in the hosiery market.
Glamorous, shiny, yet sheer tights from Pretty Polly. These tights have all the standard luxury features such as comfort waistband and flat seams. Good value for money. Ideal for everyday and special wear. __Perfect for when you want a bare leg look, especially ideal in summer. The subtle geometrically patterned brief has been designed to be breathable to increase coolness. Additional comfort is provided by a wide comfort waistband and a cotton gusset. __Yet more fun, floral lace tights that have a "waterfall" of flowers down your legs. They have quite a close weave so great for keeping out the chill. In black they are matt on your legs, whilst obviously the gold version has a shimmer.__A range of tights, hold-ups and knee highs all using the latest innovations to maximise comfort.__Pretty Polly: Pretty Cool tights. These stylish 15 denier tights boast a reinforced body, an open gusset, smooth sheer legs and a reinforced toe.

1996 also saw the launch of the highly successful Italia range, which offered consumers beautifully refined products with continental styling, and the introduction of Opaques, a comprehensive range of tights, stockings and hold ups in a variety of textures and deniers.

Having successfully begun to put the glamour back into the Pretty Polly brand name, distinct improvements were made to existing product and packaging. The momentum continued into Spring/Summer 1997 with the relaunch of Sheer Lights, hosiery made using the Sideria yam, which gives a cool feel and a slightly tanned look on leg. Towards the end of the season, Pretty Polly hit the headlines once again with the launch of Resilience, a new product targeted at the biggest consumer issue with sheer hosiery, that of its lack of durability, with Resilience offering durability 20% higher than most sheer hosiery.

In Autumn 1997, Pretty Polly launched Secret Slimmer with the most traffic stopping advertising ever seen. Shapely model, Miriams dress disappeared to reveal the tummy shaping tights on billboards across the country. Miriam herself launched the campaign producing massive PR coverage on TV and in newspapers and magazines. NY Legs was also launched to be 'the one and only hosiery brand for young, style conscious consumers'. This brand was too launched with headline grabbing posters. Autumn '97 also saw Pretty Polly expand into new categories with the launch of Miss Polly's - tights for 5 - 12 year olds. A competition to find the face of Miss Polly's 97 ensured excellent PR coverage for the brand

A revolutionary development of the hosiery market to combine fashion and beauty came from pretty Polly in Spring 98 with the launch of Elbeo Formula. Graduated compression from ankle to thigh that slims and tones the leg profile and produces a gentle massage effect to boost circulation leaving legs feeling energised and revitalised. Beautifully packed in cosmetics inspired colours, the new range was supported by eye catching window displays, PR and national advertising.

Looking forward, Pretty Polly has aimed to get to know women and how they feel about hosiery. By commissioning their own research and combining it with trade data, Pretty Polly has got to the bottom of what women really want from their hosiery and has acted on it. Major improvements to address the issues surrounding hosiery have been made to the entire opaques range, with even the value products having deep comfort waistbands and new comfort toe seams. Also for Autumn 98 is a new range of knee-highs and ankle highs.

Following the trend towards trouser suits, and listening to the concerns of women who wear knee highs, Pretty Polly will be launching 'All Day Up' a range of knee highs with special comfort tops that stay up, don't leave marks and don't feel too tight A geometrically patterned knee high: 'La Mode' will accompany the range for the increasing number of women who want patterned hosiery. NY Legs will be extending the range with four patterned products including two exciting metallic designs.

To enhance all these launches, and to make 98 the most high profile, exciting year for Pretty Polly yet, there is one secret ingredient left: Eva Herzigova - the new face and legs of Pretty Polly! Eva will be appearing in a national advertising campaign, on point of sale and in windows wearing nothing but Pretty Polly tights. This will herald the start of a national tour of Leg Clinics, where Pretty Polly will give advice to women on every aspect of legs and how to make them drop dead gorgeous. Major PR activity surrounding this campaign will ensure no one is left wondering who is the mast dynamic, authoritative, famous name in hosiery.
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