Flannels, also known as The Flannels Group, is a chain of high end designer stores in the United Kingdom specialising in luxury fashion clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. It was founded by Neil Prosser in 1976, who remains the managing director today. By 2014 Flannels had stores open in Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds and Nottingham including Manchester’s Life store and Flannels’ Lowry Outlet store in Salford Quays. By the summer of 2016, a new Flannels stores had opened in Sunderland, Gateshead's Metrocentre, Swindon, Cardiff, Silverburn shopping centre Glasgow and Plymouth with stores in Southport and Middlesbrough opening soon. In 2012, sportswear giant Sports Direct bought a majority 51% stake in Flannels.