CPD RMG Study Stitching a better future for Bangladesh
Published in the Dhaka Tribune on 14, July 2017
Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) – a private initiative to promote Bangladesh apparel industry – is going to organise a workshop on how to develop an apparel brand.
The day-long workshop titled “How to build your own apparel brand and directly address European and US Consumers” will be held on July 29 at Gardenia in Dhaka.
The objective of the workshop is to disseminate knowledge on how to develop the next growth strategy of Bangladesh’s apparel sector by putting up new designs to locally owned products and making them stand out as an international brand, which will facilitate a direct sale to Western consumers.
By participating in the workshop, an entrepreneur will be able to gain insight on how the global renowned brands are conceptualised and designed. It will also help create own brand as well as bring about an opportunity of e-commerce.
Bangladesh – the second largest exporter of clothing products – produces apparel items for global retailers such as Zara, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Gap and many more, founder and chief executive officer of BAE Mostafiz Uddin said.
But the manufacturers that make clothes for the world’s famous brands are yet to establish any global brand originated from Bangladesh, added Mostafiz.
Considering all these aspects, BAE has taken the initiative to share experience and advice for building a brand from purpose to product for entrepreneurs, fashion aspirants and everyone with a dream to build their own brad, said Mostafiz.
According to the industry insiders and experts, by creating brands, Bangladesh can increase profit margin by utilising the strength and intelligence of local business, which would impact Bangladesh’s economy largely.
The workshop will help one to kick off with next growth strategy by providing insight into designing own brand and selling it directly to western wholesalers and end consumers.
In the just-concluded fiscal year, export earnings from the clothing industry have seen only a 0.20% rise to $28.15 billion, the lowest in the last one and a half decades.
The overall export earnings stood at $34.83 billion, which is 1.68% higher than $34.25 billion a year ago.
At this situation, Bangladesh should focus on high-end products to come out of the sluggish export growth, Mostafiz said, who is also the managing director of Denim Expert Limited.
The business tycoon has successfully been exporting his denim products to Europe since 1999.
“I think the workshop will help RMG people focus on building brand to get better prices,” he commented.
