A leading shirtmaker in Derry today announced it was shedding nearly 50 jobs.
Glenaden Shirts said it was cutting its workforce by 85 to around 30 after deciding to move production abroad due to "reduced demand for product sourced from the UK".
Trade unions said it was a devastating blow to the workforce and a loss of many more jobs than had been expected.
Glenaden makes shirts for leading names such as Thomas Pink, Burberry and Aquascutum, as well as its own brands.
Ironically, the job losses were announced as the company said 2007 had been the most successful in its history, with sales increasing by 30 per cent to £4.4 million.
Glenaden is the latest in a line of Northern Ireland companies that have been unable to compete with the low costs of the Far East.