Big name brands leaning on B\\\'desh to source sportswear

Top international brands are turning to Bangladesh to source lured by sportswear, lower price and higher quality, trade-insiders said.      
This development is being seen as a new opportunity for the readymade garment (RMG) sub-sector.
In recent times, they said, a large number of global business partners are coming up with new orders of such special clothing, bypassing the competitors like China, India and Turkey.
Bangladesh has become world's second-largest sportswear exporter after China as the country ships products worth around $3.86 billion annually.
The RMG sub-sector has more than 1,700 factories concentrated around the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) research cell noticed a large number of international buyers converging here from more than 90 countries.
Nike, Puma, Adidas, Charles Voegele, G-Star, Jack and Jones, s.Oliver, River Island, H&M, C&A, PVH and GAP are among the big brands already engaged in outsourcing sportswear items from Bangladesh.
The contribution of woven and knit garment is almost similar to the country's export earning with 41 per cent and 39 per cent respectively.
Around 25 per cent of knit garments like sportswear go to traditional and nontraditional markets, including the USA and the EU countries.
"The local manufacturers have been producing international- quality sportswear with a competitive price range. As a result, we have been exporting sportswear for the players and audiences of different countries, including traditional and new markets," said Mohammad Hatem, former vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
He told the FE correspondent that due to quality product and competitive price the local sportswear is now holding second- largest position on the world market, after China.
The trade leader said the leading international buyers, including renowned brands, are shifting orders to Bangladesh from Pakistan, Turkey, India and China.
According to BKMEA, due to the World Cup Football 2014 the local manufacturers exported over 5 million pieces of sportswear, mostly T-shirts, worth about $1.0 billion.
In recent times, more than 90 per cent sportswear products are being made from local fabrics as the country is going to attain self-sufficiency in knitwear fabrics. There are more than 261 composite factories in the knitwear industry.
The BKMEA data also show there are 383 yarn-manufacturing industries in the country whereas fabric-manufacturer units are 743. In the backward linkage like knitting, dyeing and spinning, now the total investment stands over US$5.03 billion.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of the Exporters' Association of Bangladesh (EAB), noted that most of younger people nowadays wear sportswear as casual dresses at home or office.
As a result, the demand for such clothing is increasing in the local and international markets.
 "Sportswear is being used as a fashion item as the young generation passes through a major change," the trade leader further said in his observation on the change of taste and liking.     
He said sportswear is a knitwear item. The sportswear is being produced from local fabrics as the country is going to be self-sufficient in the knitwear industry.
Country's leading knitwear manufacturers are introducing sportswear units as leading international business partners have shown keen interest in sourcing the items.
 "Due to fulfil the increasing demand in last couple of years, about 25 entrepreneurs have expanded their business to sportswear alongside other knitwear products," he told the FE.
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