Gazi Anowarul Hoque :
Bangladesh is drawing the attention of global buyers for high-end items, especially in the denim segment. Global brands have started exploring the sourcing potential of handloom denim fabrics dyed with natural indigo from Bangladesh.
Statistics say, Bangladesh is the second to export denim to the EU market, third for US. Exports of Bangladeshi-made denim products reached euro 1.07 billion to the EU during January to November of 2015 period, showing a 25.35 per cent growth compared with the same period of 2014, according to the BGMEA data based on Eurostat.
The country fetched euro 932.86 million from the EU in 2014, marking a 15.53 per cent growth, it showed. Bangladesh surpassed Turkey and China to become the top exporter of denim items to the EU in that year.
In 2009, the country fetched only euro 376.08 million by exporting denim products to the EU. Between January and November 2015, Turkey, the largest denim exporter to the regional market in 2013, earned euro 879.95 million registering a 10.92 per cent growth. China’s exports to the market in the same period grew by 4.04 per cent to euro 622.93 million, according to the association data.
However, exports of Pakistan’s denim products grew by 32.50 per cent to euro 686.14 million during the period, the BGMEA data.
The average price offered by local denim makers to the EU was about euro 6.23 per piece, while the same by China and Mexico was 7.02 and euro 7.61 per piece respectively during last year, according to denimsandjeans.com-a website which is dedicated to the world denim industry.
Similarly, the average rate for Bangladeshi denim products in the US market was $6.47 per piece compared to $7.53 for Chinese, $8.72 for Mexican and Pakistani, Egyptian $8.88 and Vietnamese $8.42, the website said.
Founder of the site Sandeep Agarwal said, “Price is the advantage of Bangladeshi denim makers that helps them retain the top exporting position in the EU and maintain the third position in the US.”
In recent years, a few companies have started cultivating natural indigo and this indigo is mainly used in dyeing high quality, handmade products for high end and luxury markets.
Denim made on handlooms is softer than mill made denim, has a unique texture and breathes well and helps feel cool in summer and retain body warmth in winter. After cutting and collection of indigo leaves, they are soaked in a tank to produce an oxidised slurry, which is later boiled, sun-dried and made into vats. Organic cotton and natural indigo dye are being used for producing the handloom denim fabric.
Sustainable fashion companies in Germany are among the buyers that are currently working with a local company to produce hand-woven indigo denim fabric. Natural indigo is growing better in Bangladesh compared with other countries.
Production of ecological jeans has begun in Bangladesh. One instance is handloom selvedge denim fabric. Denim fabric with self-binding edges on both ends, running along the complete length of the fabric, is known as selvedge denim. Though the sampling development part is done outside Bangladesh, there is a possibility of stitching the finished products locally.
But the local sub-sector failed to keep the same pace in the United States as earnings from the market recorded a meagre 0.68 per cent growth with earnings worth $430.29 million in 2015 calendar year, the BGMEA data revealed.
China and Mexico earned $984.32 million and $958.44 million respectively from the US in the last calendar year, it showed.
Mustafiz Uddin, Managing Director of Denim Expert Limited told the New Nation that Denim is an item used by both men and women all the year round and rising cost in China has created an opportunity for us to grab the market.
In denim segment, Bangladesh now produces more value-added products. Denim entrepreneurs target to export $7 billion worth by 2021, when the country’s total garment export is expected to cross the $50-billion mark, he added. To attract more global denim buyers and introduce the country’s strength to them, two shows titled ‘Denim in Fashion Dhaka’ and ‘Bangladesh Denim Expo’ will begin on March 02 and April 25 & 26 this year respectively. The first show will be organised by denimsandjeans.com at Radisson Blu hotel, while the later by Chittagong-based Denim Experts Ltd at International Convention City Bashundhara.
Bangladesh is drawing the attention of global buyers for high-end items, especially in the denim segment. Global brands have started exploring the sourcing potential of handloom denim fabrics dyed with natural indigo from Bangladesh.
Statistics say, Bangladesh is the second to export denim to the EU market, third for US. Exports of Bangladeshi-made denim products reached euro 1.07 billion to the EU during January to November of 2015 period, showing a 25.35 per cent growth compared with the same period of 2014, according to the BGMEA data based on Eurostat.
The country fetched euro 932.86 million from the EU in 2014, marking a 15.53 per cent growth, it showed. Bangladesh surpassed Turkey and China to become the top exporter of denim items to the EU in that year.
In 2009, the country fetched only euro 376.08 million by exporting denim products to the EU. Between January and November 2015, Turkey, the largest denim exporter to the regional market in 2013, earned euro 879.95 million registering a 10.92 per cent growth. China’s exports to the market in the same period grew by 4.04 per cent to euro 622.93 million, according to the association data.
However, exports of Pakistan’s denim products grew by 32.50 per cent to euro 686.14 million during the period, the BGMEA data.
The average price offered by local denim makers to the EU was about euro 6.23 per piece, while the same by China and Mexico was 7.02 and euro 7.61 per piece respectively during last year, according to denimsandjeans.com-a website which is dedicated to the world denim industry.
Similarly, the average rate for Bangladeshi denim products in the US market was $6.47 per piece compared to $7.53 for Chinese, $8.72 for Mexican and Pakistani, Egyptian $8.88 and Vietnamese $8.42, the website said.
Founder of the site Sandeep Agarwal said, “Price is the advantage of Bangladeshi denim makers that helps them retain the top exporting position in the EU and maintain the third position in the US.”
In recent years, a few companies have started cultivating natural indigo and this indigo is mainly used in dyeing high quality, handmade products for high end and luxury markets.
Denim made on handlooms is softer than mill made denim, has a unique texture and breathes well and helps feel cool in summer and retain body warmth in winter. After cutting and collection of indigo leaves, they are soaked in a tank to produce an oxidised slurry, which is later boiled, sun-dried and made into vats. Organic cotton and natural indigo dye are being used for producing the handloom denim fabric.
Sustainable fashion companies in Germany are among the buyers that are currently working with a local company to produce hand-woven indigo denim fabric. Natural indigo is growing better in Bangladesh compared with other countries.
Production of ecological jeans has begun in Bangladesh. One instance is handloom selvedge denim fabric. Denim fabric with self-binding edges on both ends, running along the complete length of the fabric, is known as selvedge denim. Though the sampling development part is done outside Bangladesh, there is a possibility of stitching the finished products locally.
But the local sub-sector failed to keep the same pace in the United States as earnings from the market recorded a meagre 0.68 per cent growth with earnings worth $430.29 million in 2015 calendar year, the BGMEA data revealed.
China and Mexico earned $984.32 million and $958.44 million respectively from the US in the last calendar year, it showed.
Mustafiz Uddin, Managing Director of Denim Expert Limited told the New Nation that Denim is an item used by both men and women all the year round and rising cost in China has created an opportunity for us to grab the market.
In denim segment, Bangladesh now produces more value-added products. Denim entrepreneurs target to export $7 billion worth by 2021, when the country’s total garment export is expected to cross the $50-billion mark, he added. To attract more global denim buyers and introduce the country’s strength to them, two shows titled ‘Denim in Fashion Dhaka’ and ‘Bangladesh Denim Expo’ will begin on March 02 and April 25 & 26 this year respectively. The first show will be organised by denimsandjeans.com at Radisson Blu hotel, while the later by Chittagong-based Denim Experts Ltd at International Convention City Bashundhara.
