Thriving Silsden clothing firm Brett Harris Ltd is taking the Japanese market by storm.

The company, which specialises in sleeping bags and insulated clothing, is better known under its trade name of Snugpak. It has a full order book through to next February, with the bulk of the orders going to the fashionable boutiques of Tokyo.

Now the firm is desperately trying to recruit at least four more skilled sewing machinists to keep its momentum going.

Production and sales director Mick Dobson said: "At the moment it's proving very difficult to get machinists because no-one is training them any more. We have even advertised around the village, trying to find youngsters to train ourselves, but we have had no response."

The company is working to full capacity, with a five-day week, 18 hours a day and unlimited overtime. Around 50 per cent of its clothing is made abroad, but ideally Mr Dobson would like to see it all made in Silsden.

"We have a full order book until the end of February, with 40,000 jackets to complete by the end of October and another 20,000 after that - virtually all for Japan," said Mr Dobson.

"Export orders for insulated clothing have gone mad over the last two or three years, especially in Japan. We have made massive inroads in the Japanese market, where our Snugpak label is seen as the number one," he added.

Brett Harris Ltd was started by Brett and Bryony Harris from their home 24 years ago, and has been based in Silsden for the last 19 years. It now employs around 65 people in the village, with more outworkers in Silsden and Manchester.

Originally Brett, a former diver, specialised in making bodywarmers for divers after identifying a gap in the market. He later went into sleeping bags, introducing pack-size bags, and then transferred that technology into insulated clothing.

The clothing has proved especially popular with serving soldiers, who buy their own warm items to supplement Army issue. The firm's Code Green range has been used by soldiers in Bosnia and Kosovo over the last few years.

Last year turnover reached £3.2 million, and Mr Dobson expects it to hit £4 million for the 12 months to October.

And that is despite a massive decline in sleeping bag orders because of the foot and mouth outbreak.

"Sleeping bag orders have been decimated by the outbreak," said Mr Dobson. "Sales are down 50 per cent, so some of the workers who would normally be making sleeping bags have transferred to making clothing."