Introduction of the latest technology, upgradation of products and blending of fashion designs can lead Bangladesh to become a leading denim exporting country in the globe, said experts, manufacturers and buyers. They also said that there was a possibility for Bangladesh to become number one denim exporter within 10 years but the country would have to introduce more transparent production system and sustainable wages for the workers. ‘There is a lot of opportunities for Bangladesh in the denim sector but fashion designing is very important to attract global buyers,’ Andrew Olah, the founder of Kingpins show, the largest denim show in the world, told New Age on Thursday. He said that to move the production of denim from lower-end to high-end entrepreneurs of Bangladesh would have to work with the government. Olah suggested use of natural resources like indigo, dyestuff and renewable energy in producing denim and denim products as global buyers are emphasising on environmental compliance. ‘Everything is possible in Bangladesh as it is doing a very good job at production,’ he said. Ben Fokkema, founder of Amsterdenim, Netherlands, suggested that manufacturers should be more transparent. ‘Introduce sustainable and durable ways in the production process and make people happy on the floor,’ he said. Bangladesh has lots of creative people and there should be a scope for them to develop designs for denim, Ben said. Bangladesh should make more places for artists and designers to bring their arts in the show, he said. ‘The main target should be the upgradation of products and Bangladesh is already producing items with good level,’ Michele Grassellini, consultant of CCA and Partners, a German-based consultant clothing agency, told New Age. Bangladesh is producing items keeping the European market in mind, but the fashion trend is different in different countries, he said. Michele forecast that Bangladesh would be number one in next 10 years. ‘The denim sector of Bangladesh is showing its capability to the global buyers through the denim expo,’ said Faruque Hassan, vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, referring to the two-day Bangladesh Denim Expo that ended on Thursday. He said that the representatives from the global top brands and buyers visited the expo and they became convinced that Bangladesh was producing high-end and environment-friendly products. ‘Many new buyers have become impressed visiting such world standard expo and it is proved that Bangladesh is the right place for the RMG buyers and there is no security concern,’ Faruque said. ‘The global buyers who visited the expo were very much happy with the arrangement and they said that the RMG sector was moving forward due to the proactive role of the country,’ said former BGMEA presicent Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez. ‘We have an image crisis and we have to brand Bangladesh properly to regain the image as the global community does not know about the progress Bangladesh has already made,’ he said. Parvez said Bangladesh has immense potential to become a key sourcing hub of denim and denim products but the government will have to ensure energy, skilled mid-level management and certification on compliance from the North American and European retailers’ groups— Alliance and Accord. M Hassan, director of Amber denim, said it is important for Bangladesh that buyers were informed through the expo that the country is producing mid- and high-end products along with lower-end items. ‘Buyers always look for alternative and we are trying to give them confidence over the sourcing from Bangladesh,’ he said. The Bangladesh Denim Expo in Dhaka saw presence of a good number of foreign buyers. As many as 40 companies including 19 international companies from China, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the United States took part in the exposition.
