‘We would actually accept to pay the price as long as we know that we will get some benefits out of it’Leaders from the RMG and denim sector say that a level-playing field is needed to ensure transparency in the global supply chain for the sake of the Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector of the country.Mostafiz Uddin, MD of the Chattogram-based Denim Expert Ltd, made the comment on May 16 during the sixth edition of Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2018 in Denmark.He emphasized the need for setting unified standards to practice transparency in reality and hold all involved in the supply chain accountable.Mostafiz was speaking about the transparency in the supply chain, at the session called “Enabling Transparency to Create Change presented by C&A Foundation where European Union (EU)” policy-makers, top officials of brands and retailers and representatives from global rights groups were present.The summit is a meeting platform for decision of the fashion sector including makers, leading non-government organizations (NGOs), experts, policy-makers and academics aiming to create a common understanding and gain commitment on the most critical issues facing the industry.Mostafiz spoke about his experience of the summit to a group of journalists at his factory located at Chittagong Export Processing Zone on Saturday in the presence of representatives from buyers there.At the summit he said that the biggest barrier to transparency – which can significantly change the fashion landscape – is cost. “We would actually accept to pay the price as long as we know that we will get some benefits out of it,” he said. “Transparency is the first step towards a different culture for fashion and everybody has to be equally transparent,” he added: “We need high level of engagement and support from brands, retailers and consumers to make transparency practices a reality.”Mostafiz asked why a universal rule has not been formulated to demand transparency.“Multiple safety measures were taken in Bangladesh garment factories after Rana Plaza collapsed, which makes Bangladesh a lucrative destination for foreign buyers and it has immense potential,” he added.
