Apparel manufacturers are now putting their efforts to create a synergy between the world’s renowned fashion researchers, inventors and technologists to make the country’s RMG industry more competitive and time befitting with the global trend. “We are trying our level best to bring some renowned researchers, inventors and technologist from apparel sector, which may creates opportunity for Bangladesh apparel manufacturers to get knowledge about best innovation, latest technology and global fashion trend” said Mostafiz Uddin, Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and Bangladesh Denim Expo. He made the remarks while talking to this correspondent at the sideline of Bangladesh Denim Expo, an international exposition of denim products at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) that ended on Friday. Bangladesh apparel exchange, a Chattogram-based nonprofit organisation organised the two-day Denim Expo began at ICCB in Dhaka on Thursday. A total of 63 exhibitors from 11 countries took part in the much awaited show of denim manufacturers and buyers. The 2-day expo focused mainly on ‘circularity’ as a theme for bringing positive changes in the whole denim supply chain. ‘The theme of Circularity is to raise awareness and open debate about the need to embrace circular business practices. We live in a world where we are producing too much clothing products which are being discarded largely rather than reused, recycled or repurposed – this linear business model is unsustainable for the future.’ said Mostafiz Uddin. M Kamal Uddin, Managing Director of Raymotex, the sole agent of Indian Raymond denim in Bangladesh, said Bangladesh Denim Expo is a wonderful place for networking with our brands, buyers and research scholars and getting knowledge about the global denim industry, fashion trend and technological innovation. This year Bangladesh Apparel Exchange also organised the second edition of Fashionology summit, which also a unique opportunity to made good discussion on circularity, transparency, competitiveness and pricing, he added. “We have developed a new technology to produce best quality man-made fiber from garment wastage through recycling,” said Petri Alava, CEO and Founder of Infinited Fiber Company, who visited Bangladesh for the first time. ‘We are not simply recycling, but regenerating new fibers which are comfortable as well as price competitive”’, he added. Mostafiz Uddin said many of manufacturers requested them to make a scope for better understanding about the overall apparel industry even beyond denim. This fashionology summit may help them to make right decision to choose right technology to make sustainable their apparel business. Turkish denim fabrics producer Orta is well known in global market as high value denim fabrics producer, its senior Account Manager Nezahat Boni told the Daily Sun, “We are like boutique house, if you compare us with denim mills of Bangladesh having huge production capacity”. Orta focuses mainly on producing premium category fabrics and the price starts from US$3, she added. ‘Bangladesh market is becoming more competitive gradually but a good number of Bangladeshi garments have business with us’, said the manager adding that their businesses have been expanding. None can ignore the importance of Bangladesh market, that’s why everybody is keen to visit Bangladesh to make business, Boni said. “Bangladesh is getting positive responses from global brands,” said Square Denim ltd. General Manager Sayeed Ahmad Chowdhury adding “the business trend is very positive; we have huge orders for next couple of months” “Now we are producing high-value denim and trying to reduce cost of production to make our products more competitive in the market,” he added. Square Denim ltd plans to setup its second unit by next year having the capacity of producing 2 million yard of fabrics monthly, said Sayeed Ahmad Chowdhury. Now their monthly fabrics production capacity is about 2.5 million yard, he added.
