Alan Paine

Alan Paine is an English knitwear and country clothing brand founded in 1907 in Godalming, Surrey, by William Paine. It is known for cable-knit sweaters and, since 2009, a Country collection of tweeds and outerwear.

What is Alan Paine?

Alan Paine is a British knitwear and country clothing brand. It was founded in 1907 in the market town of Godalming, Surrey, by William Paine under the name Paines of Godalming, and may have produced some of the first cable-knit sweaters.

History

In the 1920s the company supplied specialist shops with cable sweaters trimmed in club colours, and the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, ordered personalised pieces. William's son Alan Paine took over in 1949 and expanded into the United States, where the business was renamed Alan Paine. It received a Queen's Award for export achievement in 1970 and in 1973 knitted vicuña sweaters as a wedding gift for Princess Anne. After several changes of owner in the 1990s, it was bought in 2006 by James Hinton, returning it to family ownership.

Products and positioning

• Knitwear, including cable-knit sweaters
• Country collection of tweeds, waterproofs, fleeces and quilts, launched 2009
• English Explorer knitwear and outerwear
• Shirts, gilets, trousers and accessories

Distribution

The brand is widely stocked by British country clothing retailers alongside its own online sales.

Why it matters

Alan Paine is one of the older names in British knitwear and shows how a heritage knitter has broadened into a full country lifestyle range.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Alan Paine?

Alan Paine was founded by William Paine in Godalming, Surrey, in 1907; the brand took the name of his son Alan, who led it from 1949.

What is Alan Paine known for?

Alan Paine is known for English knitwear, particularly cable-knit sweaters, and for country clothing such as tweeds and gilets.

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