Buyers - Bangladesh Business News

How to make the Bangladesh apparel industry sustainable

BBN Desk — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 04:11:56 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The second edition of the Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF), scheduled to be held in Dhaka on November 05, is aiming to make the apparel and clothing industry of Bangladesh more sustainable.

"Sustainability is not an option but a must for the Bangladesh apparel industry. So, the SAF aims to add pace to the sustainability momentum and drive discussions to that end,” Mostafiz Uddin, a key organizer of the forum said during a press conference in Dhaka on Monday, reports SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL.

The SAF is being organized by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) with support from the embassies of the Netherlands and Sweden, H&M, Better Work Bangladesh and C&A Foundation.

Mr. Uddin, founder and CEO of the BAE, said the second SAF is going to be the biggest event in the history of the Bangladesh apparel industry.

This is high time for the Bangladesh garment industry to demonstrate its determination to make the industry sustainable, diplomats and business leaders said while explaining the necessity for sustainability at the press conference.

A sustainable readymade garment sector will help ensuring economic growth, job creation and social progress of Bangladesh, they added.

GJ Harry Verweij, ambassador of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, said nobody wants to buy products that are made by children or that seriously harm the environment.

“People expect products to be responsibly sourced. People feel they have a right to fair products, produced without human rights violations and environmental damage,” the diplomat explained.

Apparel consumption is set to increase by 65 per cent by 2030 globally when the population will go up by 16 per cent, creating huge business potential for Bangladesh’s garment industry, according to Ziaur Rahman, H&M’s country manager for Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ethiopia.

“Environmental pollution will appear as a big challenge then, as it is spreading at the same rate of the global apparel consumption,” the H&M official added.

Mr. Rahman also said that his company had already asked all of its suppliers and manufacturers to be more aware of the sustainability of the fashion business.

Bangladesh has already built up many world-class green garment factories solely for sustainability of the business and environment, not under any buyer’s prescription, Rubana Huq, president of the BGMEA, said.

“For me sustainability is not only environment, it is very much about sustainable factories, labour practice and of course sustaining and subscribing sustainable environment prices,” the BGMEA chief added.

Charlotta Schlyter, Sweden’s ambassador to Bangladesh, and MA Rahim (Feroz), vice-president of the BGMEA also spoke on the occasion.

The SAF will include a series of panel discussions on critical issues such as water sustainability, actions to combat climate change, transparency and responsible purchasing practice among others where more than 50 speakers from home and abroad are expected to share their expert opinions, according to the organizers.

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H&M launches to bring product transparency to scale

BBN Desk — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 02:18:33 +0000

H&M

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- H&M launches transparency layer for all its garments on hm.com starting April 23, sharing details enabling fashion lovers to make more informed choices.

Under the initiatives, the global fashion retailer now share details such as production country, supplier names, factory names and addresses as well as the number of workers in the factories for each of its garments.

Besides, customers can find out more about the materials used to make a specific garment. By sharing extended details on where the garments are made and make it easier for customers to make more informed choices when shopping.

Customers can also access this information when shopping in the H&M stores by using the retailer app to scan the price tag on a product to see its details.

“We are so proud to be the first global fashion retailer of our size and scale to launch this level of product transparency. We want to show the world that this is possible,” Isak Roth, Head of Sustainability at H&M, says.
“By being open and transparent about where our products are made we hope to set the bar for our industry and encourage customers to make more sustainable choices.”

“With transparency comes responsibility, making transparency such an important factor to help create a more sustainable fashion industry.”

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H&M encourages suppliers to pay workers digitally

BBN Desk — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 03:23:54 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Swedish retailer H&M has announced it would encourage its suppliers to pay their workers through mobile money or other digital forms to improve the livelihoods of its workforce, enhance transparency and cut factory costs.
The move came following the company’s joining the ‘Better Than Cash Alliance’, a United Nations-based partnership of governments, companies and international organisations accelerating the transition from cash to digital payments, according to a statement issued by the Alliance.
“Digital payments are an efficient and scalable way to improve the lives of the employees of our suppliers. They offer a faster, safer and more transparent way to receive their salary, increase financial inclusion and support women’s economic independence,” Gustav Loven, Social Sustainability Manager at H&M group, said in the statement.
“Also, for our suppliers, paying wages digitally can generate savings, increase security and provide more accurate data on wages,” it quoted Gustav Loven as saying.
“H&M group is taking a bold step in recognising how cash-heavy supply chains limit efforts to empower workers and prevent companies from increasing transparency. And, it’s inefficient,” said Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director of the Alliance.
“H&M group’s leadership will help inspire other companies in the industry, and beyond, to make the shift to digital payments and contribute to inclusive growth, as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals, in emerging markets.”
As most part of the benefits will be realised by female workers, this move is a prime example of a corporation working to achieve the SDGs on gender equality (SDG-5) and decent work and economic growth (SDG-8).
Some 65 per cent of the 1.6 million people employed along H&M group’s supply chain including in Bangladesh were women, many of them with limited access to the financial services they need to create a better life for themselves and their families.
H&M group joins 55 other Better Than Cash Alliance members, and will have access to the knowledge and technical expertise offered by the Alliance and its members to accelerate the shift to digital payments, helping to advance economic growth and expand financial inclusion.

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China to start cotton reserve auctions this month

BBN Desk — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 05:10:17 +0000

Washington, DC (BBN)- The Chinese government is expected to start sales from its cotton reserves on the sixth of this month and to continue offering around 30,000 tonnes a day until the end of August 2017.
More cotton may be put up for auction if sales are strong and market prices rise, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).
Last year, around 2.6 million tonnes were sold through the end of September 2016. Assuming a similar volume is sold this year, the total volume held by the Chinese government will reach 6 million tons by the end of 2016/17.
China’s total stocks, including those in the private sector, are forecast to reach 9.3 million tonnes at the end of 2016/17, accounting for 53 per cent of world stocks, the ICAC said in its latest report.
World ending stocks are expected to decline by 7.0 per cent to 17.9 million tonnes in 2016/17.
In 2017/18, world cotton consumption is projected to exceed production by 1.2 million tonnes and stocks are expected to decline for the third consecutive season to 16.7 million tonnes.
China’s ending stocks could fall by 19 per cent to 7.5 million tonnes, accounting for 45 per cent of world stocks at the end of 2017/18.
This would mark the first season since 2011/12 that China’s stocks account for less than half of world inventories.
World ending stocks outside of China are forecast to grow by 7.0 per cent to 8.0 million tonnes, which could place downward pressure on prices later this season.
Global cotton production is forecast to grow by 23.1 million tonnes on a planted area of 30.4 million hectares in 2017/18.
India’s cotton production is projected to rise by 2% to 5.9 million tonnes, as area expands by 7.0 per cent to 11.2 million hectares.
China’s cotton production may increase by 2.0 per cent to 4.8 million tonnes, but will greatly depend on whether a subsidy is provided this year.
While high cotton prices relative to competing crops is likely to lead to a large increase in planted area expected in the United States in 2017/18, production is forecast to rise by just 1.0 per cent to 3.7 million tonnes.
Assuming normal weather patterns, the harvested area is projected to expand by 3.0 per cent to just under 4.0 million hectares. Pakistan’s cotton production is forecast to grow by 11 per cent to 1.9 million tonnes.
Its cotton area is projected to expand by 3.0 per cent to 2.5 million hectares as high prices this season encourage farmers to plant, and the average yield may grow by 8.0 per cent to 736 kg/ha as the crop recovers from pest pressure.
After declining by 1.0 per cent to 24 million tonnes in 2015/16, world cotton consumption is expected to remain stable in 2016/17.
Given the strong demand this season and anticipated world economic growth in 2017 and 2018, world mill use is forecast to increase by 1.0 per cent to 24.3 million tonnes.
China’s consumption and share in the world total declined continuously from 2010/11 to 2015/16, when it reached 7.4 million tonnes. While its mill use is forecast to grow by 2.0 per cent to 7.6 million tonnes in 2016/17 and by 1.0 per cent to 7.7 million tonnes in 2017/18, its world share of cotton consumption is likely to remain at 30 per cent.
Mill use in India is projected to decline by 3.0 per cent to 5.1 million tonnes in 2016/17, but is forecast to recover by 1.0 per cent to 5.2 million tonnes in 2017/18.
Consumption in Bangladesh continues to grow due to strong textile exports, with its mill use likely to rise by 5.0 per cent to 1.5 million tonnes in 2017/18. Mill use in Vietnam has more than doubled in the last five years from around 500,000 tonnes in 2012/13 to an expected 1.2 million tonnes in 2017/18.
World trade is expected to expand by 3.0 per cent to 8 million tons in 2017/18.
China’s import volume is expected to rise by 11.0 per cent to 1.1 million tonnes in 2017/18 as its mill use continues to outpace its production.
Bangladesh’s imports are projected to rise by 3.0 per cent to 1.5 million tonnes in 2017/18, while Vietnam’s imports are forecast to increase by 7.0 per cent to 1.24 million tonnes.
The United States is expected to remain the world’s largest exporter and its volume is forecast to rise by 5.0 per cent to 2.9 million tonnes in 2017/18.
Exports from India, the world’s second largest exporter, are projected to grow by 3.0 per cent to 990,000 tonnes.

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Denimsandjeans Bangladesh expo ends with high hopes

BBN Desk — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 02:02:06 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The 7th edition of Denimsandjeans Bangladesh ended in the capital Thursday evening with high hopes to provide hi-fashion denim products with a lower cost to attract global buyers.
Exhibitors as well as buyers expressed their satisfactions over the expo, saying that it will help creating a platform for denim stakeholders and will make Bangladesh as one stop sourcing platform for denim industry.
Bangladesh has become a major hub for sourcing trendy denim products for international retailers for its competitive pricing, they observed.
“We’ve received very good response from the global brands and retailers as they think Bangladesh is a nice place to source denim at reasonable prices and will lead the global denim industry very soon,” Sandeep Agarwal, Founder of Denimsandjeans.com, said.
He also said: “Our motive is to showcase the potential of Bangladeshi Apparel and Textile Industry to the world by organizing such events.”
About 28 companies from countries including Bangladesh, Turkey, India, China, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Pakistan, Hong Kong etc took part in the exhibition to showcase their denim collections, new technologies, innovations and accessories.
The expo with a new theme –‘Denim Mashup’– focused the latest trend in denim where embellishments, embroideries, sequins, patches, paint etc are used in different combinations to produce visually exaggerated hi fashion denims.
The ‘Denim Mashup’ has been a subtle trend over many years now and we now see its strong resurgence across multiple brands worldwide from luxury brands like Gucci to fast fashion retailers like Zara and H&M, all are taking up this as the next cool denim trend in 2017.
Denimsandjeans.com, a website dedicated to the world denim industry since 2007, organised the show aiming to expand the footprint of denim and denim products made in Bangladesh.

The 8th edition of Denimsandjeans Bangladesh will be held Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka on October 04-05, 2017 and the 2nd edition of their Vietnam show is scheduled on June 7-8, 2017 at Gem Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

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Denimsandjeans Bangladesh expo opens to attract global buyers

BBN Desk — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 06:35:15 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The 7th edition of Denimsandjeans Bangladesh began in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday aiming to attract global buyers through showcasing latest jeanswear and accessories with a lower cost.
The expo with a new theme –‘Denim Mashup’– is focusing the latest trend in denim where embellishments, embroideries, sequins, patches, paint etc are used in different combinations to produce visually exaggerated hi fashion denims.
This trend is being taken up by global brands like Gucci, D&G, Tommy Hilfiger, Wrangler and many others. The whole show will be decked up in the ‘Denim Mashup theme.’
The ‘Denim Mashup’ has been a subtle trend over many years now and we now see its strong resurgence across multiple brands worldwide from luxury brands like Gucci to fast fashion retailers like Zara and H&M, all are taking up this as the next cool denim trend in 2017.
"Bangladesh has strengths in apparel industry duly supported by textile base which no other Asian country has,” Sandeep Agarwal, Founder of Denimsandjeans.com, said while explaining the position on the country.
Bangladesh is the largest exporter of denim jeans to Europe -- even more than China, he said, adding that Now Bangladesh is exporting jeans in more than double the quantity of China to the EU.
“We’re trying to bring some of the most important denim personalities of the globe through organizing the expo and help in further focus on the denim industry in Bangladesh and its great potential,” Mr. Agarwal noted.
About 28 companies participating from countries including Bangladesh, Turkey, India, China, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Pakistan, Hong Kong etc are taking part in the exhibition to showcase their denim pants, fabrics and latest accessories.

The Denimsandjeans team is recreating the theme using products from some of the key global denim suppliers and brings them at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel on March 1-2.
Informative Seminar by Dr. Dilek Erik from Turkey on the topic – “Studying Lifestyles and Creating Story to Sell Denims” and Presentation by Mr. Jordi Junai on the topic - “Jeans supply opportunity in US market” and couple of workshops on global denim innovations add further zing to the show.
Besides, the Denimsandjeans brings out the ‘Denim Quiz’ for the students of fashion universities of Bangladesh in its Seventh Edition on March 01 to enhance their denim knowledge.
This is a special event for the students of the participating universities – BUET, SMUCT and NIFT –as they will be able to compete with each other on their denim knowledge and their competition will be transmitted globally through Denimsandjeans Facebook Livecast.
The idea behind the event is to encourage the students to research more on denim subjects and get deeper knowledge - which will help them in their careers as well.
Such Quiz is FIRST of its kind held in Bangladesh to promote the knowledge of Bangladesh’s students.
Denimsandjeans has been involving the students of Bangladesh’s fashion universities in their various editions.
Earlier, the Denimsandjeans had also encouraged the students to make a denim collection based on High Fashion theme and selected pieces were showcased on the runway in front of global audience including the Diesel team from Italy.
The show will be opened during 11.00 AM to 7.00 PM (BST) and the entry is through invite only. For invitations, you can register here -http://www.bdshow.denimsandjeans.com/invite.php.

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Bangladesh: Apparel exports up by 7.08% in July-October

BBN Desk — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 03:17:05 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh’s apparel exports increased by 7.08 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 as entrepreneurs able to improve both productivity and quality of their products.
Woven garment exports increased by 5.37 per cent to $4.29 billion during the period under review from $4.07bn in the same period of the last fiscal while Knitwear exports increased by 8.75 per cent to $4.53bn from $4.17 billion, according to statistics from the state-run Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
“The actual price of garment items declined worldwide, which prompted Bangladeshi garment makers to improve their productivity with quality of products,” an exporter explained.
He also urged the government for taking effective efforts to improve infrastructure, efficient port operations and ensuring adequate supply of gas and power to the factories to facilitate the overall productions.
Earnings from home textiles export fell by 1.55 per cent to $216.66 million during the period under review, which was $220.08 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal.
Jute and jute goods recorded a 4.15 per cent growth to $296.26 million in the July-October period of FY 2016-17 from $284.46 million in the same period of FY16.
Export earnings from leather and leather products in the first four months of current fiscal grew by 19.45 per cent to $428.51 million which was $358.73 million in the same period of last fiscal.
Leather footwear export increased by 19.92-per cent to $191.33 million during the July-October period of current fiscal year.
Frozen and live fish exports grew by 9.94 per cent to $196.61 million, which was $178.83 million in the same period of the last fiscal.
Agricultural products witnessed 1.33 per cent negative growth with earnings of $169.03 million during the first four months of current fiscal.
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Buyers cut ties with six more apparel factories in Bangladesh

BBN Desk — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 03:27:55 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The global buyers and retailers have announced to cut business relations with six more apparel factories in Bangladesh taking the total number to 151.
The factories have failed to make required progress in remediation for ensuring workplace safety in line the international standards.
The factories are: Mithun Knitting and Dyeing, Intercare Ltd and Goldmart Apparels (Pvt) Ltd in Chittagong and Fair Cotton (pvt) Ltd, Authentic Knit Wear Ltd and Time Knitwear (Pvt) Ltd at Naranyanganj.
The five factories were inspected for fire, electrical and structural safety by the Accord in 2014 and the factory owner continued to fail to implement the remediation process, Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, the platform of European Union (EU) brands and retailers, said in its separate statements on Monday.
With the six, the total number of readymade garment (RMG) factories with which EU buyers cut business relations in different times on workplace safety grounds reached to 47.
Despite notice and warning process and numerous efforts by the Accord staff and Accord signatories, the factory owners continued to fail to cooperate and implement the corrective action plans approved by the Accord, according to the buyers’ platform.
The Accord urged its signatory companies, who were using the factories, to terminate business relations with the five suppliers and all factories they operate.
On the other hand, Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, formed by North American retailers, has so far cut business relations with 104 supplier factories due to failure to make required progress in remediation.
After the Rana Plaza building collapse, which killed more than 1,100 people, mostly garment workers, in April 2013, European retailers formed the Accord while North American retailers formed Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety undertaking a five-year plan which set timelines and accountability for safety inspections and training and workers’ empowerment programmes.
The Accord has so far conducted initial inspections at 1600 factories while Alliance inspected 759 factories in Bangladesh.
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M&S clothing sales fall in Q1

BBN Desk — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 14:50:26 +0000

London, UK (BBN)- Marks and Spencer (M&S) has said like-for-like sales at its clothing arm fell by 8.9 per cent in the first quarter (Q1), as a "weak market" and fewer promotions hit sales.
Meanwhile, like-for-like food sales in the quarter were down by 0.9 per cent, reports BBC.
In May the firm's new boss Steve Rowe unveiled plans to revive the retailer's clothing and homeware business, with lower clothing prices and better style.
The firm said consumer confidence weakened in the run up to the June 23 European Union referendum in the UK.
But it said it was too early to quantify the implications of Brexit.
In early morning trade, shares in M&S, which have fallen 29% over the last three months, were down by 1.2 per cent to 290.6p.
Pricing policy
M&S also said that this year its summer sale began on 5 July, two weeks later than in 2015, a move that would reduce total sales.
The firm said the impact of moving the summer sale and running fewer promotions than last year accounted for 5% of the like-for-like sales fall.
"We continued to reduce the number of promotional events during the quarter, including just one 'cyber day' compared with six last year," the firm said, adding that it had repriced some 1,000 clothing lines since January.
Those 1,000 clothing lines have seen price cuts of around 17% since January, with some seven million items affected.
Chief executive Steve Rowe said the food business "continues to strongly outperform a deflationary market", with the 0.9 per cent fall in like-for-like sales reflecting the timing of Easter.
He said the firm was "confident that our strategic priorities and the actions we are taking remain the right ones to deliver results for our customers and our business".
'Uncertain times'
Mr Rowe also said that consumer confidence started to weaken in November, which continued through May and in the run-up to the EU referendum:
"We are operating in uncertain times and consumer confidence remains fragile," he added.
Today's first-quarter figures from M&S are worse than analysts' forecast a 5.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent drop for clothing sales.
M&S said its full-year guidance remains unchanged: "We continue to manage the business for the challenging market environment."
Richard Lim, chief executive of research consultancy Retail Economics, said: "M&S's clothing figures are painfully weak, and fail to stem the loss of market share to other, more-agile, multichannel competitors.
"Its tireless efforts to revive the struggling clothing business have failed to resonate with its core customer base."
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Denim expo kicks off in Bangladesh capital

BBN Desk — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 07:20:28 +0000

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A two-day denim expo began in the capital on Monday aiming to display the latest designs of jeans and denim products of Bangladesh to attract more foreign buyers.
The fourth edition of the expo, organised by Denim Expert Limited, a Chittagong-based denim products maker, held at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka.
“Denim will never go away –it will stay in fashion regardless of its shape, design and style,” Mostafiz Uddin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Denim Expo, said while inaugurating the expo.
Mr. Mostafiz also Managing Director of the Denim Expert Limited said the best way to stimulate the denim business is to analyze and understand the future trends. “One of them is to add more ecological and sustainable thinking to the way we produce.”
He also said: “We can plan and achieve the sustainable solutions that benefit our business.”
A total of 49 companies, 37 foreign and 12 local, are displaying their products and services in the exhibition, the organisers said adding they are expecting more turnout from apparel industries at home and abroad.
The companies from Germany, China, Italy, Singapore, Turkey, Japan, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Spain, Brazil and Thailand will participate in the show.
At present, some 26 manufacturers produce 360 million yards of denim fabrics in the country. They meet 40 per cent of the local demand while the rest is met through import, according to industry insiders.
The organizers are arranging four seminars on different issues. The panel discussants are sharing their experiences about the industry that would help Bangladeshi manufacturers go on production of value added products.
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