Photo : Collected
International apparel brands see great promise in denim products made in Bangladesh and are also upbeat about future growth of the industry.
This renewed enthusiasm comes amidst a global recovery in the denim and garment supply chain following the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. Moreover, suppliers of chemical products are experiencing growth, driven by demand from Bangladeshi dyers and washers who are importing significant quantities of chemicals.
These views were shared during the 16th edition of the Bangladesh Denim Expo. The two-day exposition, aimed at highlighting the diversity of the denim industry, began at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital on Monday.
Michael Maqsood, CEO of London-based Experience Group, said Bangladesh has good prospects in denim and the investment environment is also good.
“It is true that the West is suffering due to war, but I believe investing in R&D and market diversification is key,” he also said. He said they are now focusing on Asian markets although their primary destinations are still the US and Europe.
Monowar Shikder, director of sales and marketing at Soko Chemicals, an Italian firm, said they have been selling washing chemicals to denim makers in Bangladesh for 17 years and the demand is growing. He said his business had grown by 20 per cent over the last few years, adding that he was expecting more growth this year.
He also mentioned that manufacturers in Bangladesh were receiving increased work orders as the economies in the destination countries were showing signs of improvement.
Bangladesh has been the top denim exporter to the European Union since 2017, with one out of three people in the continent donning denim pants produced here. The global denim market is projected to rise to $76.1 billion by 2026, growing at a rate of 4.8 per cent every year, according to various estimates.
Muhammad Wahidul Alam, general manager of chemical company RNT (BD), said that the denim market was growing in Bangladesh mainly because of three reasons – low price, high capacity, and quality.
“Local manufacturers are using new washing and dyeing technologies to reduce the usage of water in washing denim fabrics,” he said. He further mentioned that many of the denim makers use seven to eight litres of water for washing a kilogram of fabrics, down from nearly 350 litres earlier.
Wahidul said his chemical business had grown over 15 per cent because of higher demand from manufacturers.
More than 60 exhibitors from 11 countries participated in the expo, including Bangladesh, India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Vietnam, and Japan. They are showcasing their latest innovations, from sustainable fabrics to cutting-edge designs.
Carmina Ferri, founder and CEO of Care Applications, a Spanish device and equipment manufacturing firm, said her business has been growing as Bangladeshi denim makers are using new devices and technologies to meet the rising demand. “The response from local manufacturers has been very positive.”
Local entrepreneurs have invested nearly Tk 25,000 crore in the denim segment of the primary textile sector, which already has 42 modern mills capable of supplying over 900 million metres of denim fabrics each year. Currently, Bangladesh's 40 mills can produce 80 million yards of denim fabrics a month.
“Reimagine” is the theme of the 16th edition of the expo, meaning the re-envisioning of the industry is driven by relentless innovation and the seamless integration of digitalisation.
Founder of Bangladesh Denim Expo Mostafiz Uddin said: "The Bangladesh Denim Expo is our gateway to success in the competitive world, learn the latest trends, connect with influential players, and unlock endless possibilities to take your business to the next level."
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