Ireland : Sharp Downward Trend In Top 100 Textile Firms

Textile and clothing industries of Northern Ireland is showing long-term trend for clothing businesses to contract or close.

In the last decade 11 businesses, which at some time have been classed as one of the Top 100 local businesses, have either closed or contracted their employment in Northern Ireland so that they no longer qualify under the criteria for the Top 100.

Out of the reckoning for the Top 100 have gone national or international companies such as Bairdwear, Ben Sherman, or Sherman Cooper, Courtaulds, now part of Sara Lee, CV or Coats Viyella, Lee Apparel, Richards plc, Savile Row, Warners (UK), Some local names have also contracted their businesses. These include Albion plc, Cooneen Textiles, Lamont plc, Of course, some of these companies are continuing in business, but on a smaller and different scale. Nevertheless, the number of textile and clothing companies in the Top 100 has fallen sharply.