The company, which already supplies many major high street brands, has benefitted from a shift by retailers to source products from the UK instead of the Far East.

Managing director Ismail Ahmed said: “More and more, the UK is becoming the destination for major retailers looking for quick turnaround, quality and short lead time solutions.

“To exploit this opportunity we needed to expand our manufacturing capacity both in terms of production machinery and factory and warehousing floor space.”

The LEP’s £21m grant programme, supported by the government’s RGF, has so far helped 118 companies across Leicester and Leicestershire with their expansion plans.

Kevin Harris, vice-chairman of the LLEP added: “Fashion Fabrics has become a leading player in the resurgence of the UK textile industry, supplying major high street brands as they seek to re-shore production from the Far East and Indian subcontinent.”

Founded in Leicester in 1976, Fashion Fabrics is creating another 20 jobs and safeguarding 40 existing ones.