Bangladeshi kids' wear is taking a vantage position on the world markets with international retailers and fashion brands showing interest in sourcing the clothing item from here, industry-insiders said.
They said the local baby-wear manufacturers are providing diversified items which are competitive in price and international quality standards.
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) research cell, the export of baby garments marked a significant rise by 25 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal year (FY).
The sector leaders said the existing global merchants and brands are expanding their work order and a number of new international business partners are coming here.
They said the traditional and nontraditional international business partners want long-term business in here as the Bangladeshi products are more competitive on the worldwide apparel market.
Wal-Mart, JC Penny, Zara, Tesco, IKEA, Marks and Spencer, H&M, G-Star Raw, Uniqlo and Li&Fung are among the leading global fashion brands turning from India and China to Bangladesh for kids' wear with new work orders.
The leading apparel manufacturers are exporting their baby-wear to traditional and nontraditional markets, including the USA, Germany, the UK, France, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa.
In recent times, the exporters have found some new international business partners in Australia, South Korea, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Portugal and the Middle-East.
The BGMEA data show nearly Tk 18 billion worth of kids' wear has been shipped in the first five months of the current fiscal year--a 25 per cent rise from the corresponding previous period.
"Usually the international business partners demand jeans, T-shirts and other wears, but in recent times they are showing keen interest in local baby-wear thanks to its quality as well as cost-effectiveness," Faruk Hasan, managing director of Giant Group, a leading apparel manufacturer, told the FE.
He said with traditional apparel items a number of international buyers were turning here from India and China for sourcing the local baby-wear.
He said the Bangladeshi fashion designs have been creating diversity on baby-wear. As a result, the international partners are showing interest.
He said, "The local baby-wear will dominate the global market within a short time as our designs are better than that of other countries."
Atiqul Islam, president of BGMEA, said: "We have been providing all kinds of kids' wear as a number of factories have been built for manufacturing only baby-wear items."
He said in recent times a large number of factories have turned to kids' stuffs, making all kinds of baby clothing.
Shahidullah Azim, managing director, Classic Fashion Concept Ltd, said a number of international leading brands are coming up with a long-term business target a as the international business partners want to source children wear from Bangladesh as the local exporters are providing quality apparel items.
He said the local players have been competing with China, Vietnam, India and Pakistan, but those countries are now facing higher costs of production while in Bangladesh production cost is affordable as labour force is available.
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Kids\\\' wear gaining world market share
Shah Alam Nur | Published: December 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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