RMG exporters set eye on flourishing home market

Leading exporters of readymade garments now set their sights on the domestic market as local consumption of global-class wear holds a great potential, industry-insiders said.
Data available with the apex trade body in the clothing sector show the domestic market size of apparel products at around Tk 200 billion where the local brands could avail less than 10 per cent share. Locally manufactured apparels having no brand value now occupy the most part of the domestic market.
Local makes of clothing are gaining popularity in the domestic fashion industry as youths are getting attracted largely to homespun global-quality products.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) more than 60 local exporters are now making dresses to cater to domestic market.
Among them are Beximco, Giant Group of Companies, Evince Group, Saasco group, East-West Industrial Park Ltd, Babylon Group and Millon Clothings Ltd.
"The domestic market has huge opportunity as there are more than 160 million people living in the country," Md Atiqul Islam, president of BGMEA, told the FE.
He said for local customers' interest the entrepreneurs are expanding their business on the local market.
Some years before, the local customers used to demand foreign-brand clothes but now they are turning to local brands as the local stuffs are better than foreign ones.
Jahangir Alam, deputy general manager (DGM) of Beximco Design studio, a sister concern of Beximco Group, said Beximco Textiles is a cent-percent export-oriented company but in recent times it has decided to spread its wings on the domestic market with YELLOW brand.
YELLOW is a local fashion brand which maintains international-quality designs and
fabrics, he said about the welcome transformation taking place in this important sector of the national economy.
He said, "We have been producing a wide range of products, including formal and casual wears for men, women and kids."
Since inception, the company man added, they have been offering world-class designs which have competitive price range.
Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, managing director of Evince Group, a leading readymade garment manufacturer and exporter, said their company has turned to domestic market alongside export business.
Last year they opened outlet at Banani and Uttara in the city and next Friday will open another outlet at Dhanmondi.
Mr Parvez said their brand 'Noir' with high-end local products and accessories targets Tk 300 million worth of sales on the domestic market.
His product band, Noir, wants to meet local customers' taste as the domestic market has a huge gap between supply and demand for designer clothes.
Faruque Hassan, managing director of Giant Group, a large RMG exporter, said local customers' mindset is changing as a number of local companies are providing international-quality apparel products.
He said the local brands are trying to cater to domestic customers' interest as the local company brings minimum two new designs for them per week.
Mr Hassan said their brand-name 'Texmart' mainly has been giving priority to middle-income group and making T-shirts, shirts, jeans and the like.
He said the local brand is getting popularity very fast as last year they produced 0.5 million pieces of clothes for local market result.
Last year, Texmart product sales saw a 15 per cent growth.
Atiar Rahman Dipu, managing director of BLU- Premium Fashion, a concern of SAASCO Group, a leading RMG manufacturer, said they find huge opportunity on the local market and so the group has launched its premium line of designer wears.
Local people's lifestyle is changing and they want quality products, he noted.
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