The future of sourcing in the apparel sector lies in the establishment of value-based partnerships. Leading industry voices are urging stakeholders to view sourcing as a collaborative venture focused on mutual growth and innovation.

Local garment suppliers are shifting gears towards sustainable fashion, utilising recycled materials in their apparel. This transformative shift not only aligns with international standards but also presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to enhance the sustainability of its garment industry significantly.

In a candid conversation with key players in Bangladesh's denim industry, including Azim Group, MBM Group, Shasha Denim and Pacific Jeans, Apparel Resources (AR) seeks insights into the evolving landscape of denim manufacturing, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from industry leaders.

Bangladesh apparel manufacturing industry has now taken the onus on itself to address the energy crisis that has worsened in 2023 with power cut for over 125 days in the first eight months of the year, not only its own survival but also to embark on a sustainable future.

Bangladesh has embarked on a global outreach strategy, focusing on diversifying its partnerships and expanding its Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector with a renewed focus on innovation and sustainability.

In the textile sector, hemp has become a staple material in various products such as casual, formal and workwear apparel, as well as sheets, towels, shoes, tote bags, drapes and carpets.

Apart from regular clothing for pets, India’s emerging brands and platforms like thepapawcartel.com offer festive collection in pet apparel. Heads Up for Tails (HUFT) offers matching clothes for holidays and special events like birthdays and weddings.

Stagnant since 2018 at BDT 8,000 (US $ 73), the minimum wage in Bangladesh is lower than that in China, Cambodia, India and Vietnam. Labour unions are now vociferously pushing for a raise in the same to BDT 23,000 (US $ 209) monthly.

According to government officials, a well-defined roadmap has been created to achieve the target of US $ 80 billion by 2030 and the capacity expansions that Bangladesh is witnessing will also become fully operational in next couple of years which will further help them boost exports