A GROWING clothes-maker is aiming to strike a deal with a famous fashion brand as it continues to create new jobs, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The AMA Group, in Peterlee, east Durham, will hold talks with Fred Perry, which uses Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins to model its range.

The move comes as AMA, which has returned clothes-making to its North-East heartland, continues to produce items for Sports Direct and Tesco.

The company already employs more than 40 workers after officially starting work in May, but bosses aim to create hundreds more as it expands, including a number of apprenticeships.

It is supplying Sports Direct, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, with more than 1,000 girls’ leggings in the style of Disney’s Frozen story after a previous successful run on a wider Disney theme.

The firm is also continuing to make thousands of ladies top for Tesco F&F range, and is in talks over nightwear and casual gym-style lines.

The company is run by directors Paul Watts, David and Julie Price and two fellow directors.

Mrs Price, who previously ran lingerie business Essensual Lingerie after Claremont Garments UK closed its manufacturing sites, said she was delighted its success is helping people return to the industry.

She said: “It’s an a very early stage, but I’m going to have a meeting with Fred Perry, and we are also working with Tesco and Sports Direct for the leggings.

“But what is great is that we are creating jobs for the lost generation.

“We have quite an ageing workforce and we came here because we wanted that experience.

“A lot of them worked in the industry before and didn’t expect to again.”

Fellow director Mr Watts said the company wants two apprentice engineers and two apprentices in its cutting room, with the latter complimenting its next phase of growth.

He added: “There would have been a lot of experienced people just sat at home with 15 years of their working lives left.

“But we’ve created full-time jobs and will continue doing that.

“We are also going to take on two apprentice engineeers and two more in the cutting room area, which is going to be the first area we have planned a major investment for.”

The company’s presence is a major boost to a County Durham employment landscape, which once boasted famous clothing makers such as Astraka, Sara Lee, Courtaulds, Dewhirst and Ramar.

Peter Dawson, of Peterlee, previously worked for companies including Charnos Garments, but, after the industry severed its North-East ties, he spent time in call centres.

The 54-year-old said: “I’ve gone full circle; I never thought this would happen again.

“Everyone has bought into the company’s vision and it’s an exciting time.”

Former Claremont worker June Hunter, of Horden, also in east Durham, was also previously victim of sector cutbacks as firms made redundancies.

However, after spending time in nursing home and customer services roles, she is now back in the industry.

She added: “I always said if the industry came back, I would come back too.

“It just feels like home.”