By 1957 , the brand was number two in the UK .
The company was bought by Thomas Tilling , who also owned much of the Walton Hosiery company in Sutton - in - Ashfield , which owned the Ballerina hosiery brand .
By 1957 , the brand was number two in the UK and the company was bought by Thomas Tilling , who also owned much of the Walton Hosiery company in Sutton - in - Ashfield , which owned the Ballerina hosiery brand .