YORKSHIRE textile bosses fear a TV drama will deter young people from joining the industry.
BBC costume drama North and South - set in the industrial revolution - depicts northern mill workers slaving in poor and cramped conditions.
The drama, based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, includes scenes of a brutal mill owner beating up one of his workers.
Employers said the programme reinforced a negative image of the textile industry among some young people.
Textile sector training organisation Skillfast UK said the scenes were far removed from the reality of today's high-tech industry.
Skillfast chief executive Linda Florance said: "Employers feel the programme has done little to help them in their attempt to attract young people into the industry.
"It helps to confirm what young people think the industry has to offer - that is dark, cramped factories full of manual workers who are poorly paid."
She said employers were working hard to improve the skills of existing employees and attract new blood.
Although UK textile firms manufactured mass goods overseas, job opp- ortunities still remained for technical roles, which were highly paid.
Ms Florance said: "The UK clothing, footwear and textile industry has undergone massive changes in recent years. The industry has invested millions of pounds into research and development of technical textiles.
"Young people need to be aware that there are real career opportunities out there and that it is not all doom and gloom."
