Flannels were originally made from a variety of flannel materials. They typically wore slip dresses with flannels, flannels and ripped jeans, and plaid in layers. Neil Prosser founded Flannels in 1976 with a menswear store in Knutsford, Cheshire. The main industries, chiefly for home consumption, were flannels, stockings and bundle cloth. Ballard Vale white flannels won prizes at the Columbian and Louisiana Purchase expositions. Osmond later said he had a photo of the day that showed Huxley wearing flannels. Mathieu handled brushes, flannels or painted directly out of the tube. There are concessions in some branches of Flannels and Fenwick. September 2019 saw Flannels open a 20,000 sq ft flagship store on Oxford Street, London. Other retailers owned by the company include House of Fraser, Flannels, USC and Lillywhites. They also developed 'Sumgrip', hip-fastening flannels, in competition with Simpson Daks. By the end of 2019 Flannels opened further stores in Watford, Belfast, York. In 2012, Frasers Group bought a majority 51% stake in Flannels. In May 2004, Flannels Cardiff opened.