Textile Today Innovation Meets Presents

Unveiling industry best practices Apparel accessories & fashion

March 2023
A Textile Today Initiative l Published with Volume 16, Issue 03 l Pages 69 to 86
|

Unveiling industry best practices

Apparel accessories & fashion
March 2023

4th Sustainable Apparel Forum US apparel Survey shows 69%

highlights transformation from companies can’t US consumers keen
a linear to a circular model in see a future to pay more for
apparel sector without China sustainability
 Textile Today Innovation Meets
Textile Today Innovation Meets

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T&A industry; predominantly with industry insiders in leadership or strategic roles.
TexTIMe would produce in-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions and topics relevant to the time and
issue of the industry. Noteworthy personalities from textile & apparel industry talk about the affairs of their
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Figure: The fourth Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) highlights the transformation from a linear to a circular model in the apparel
sector – including circularity, climate action, renewable energy, and human rights due diligence.
4th Sustainable Apparel Forum highlights
transformation from a linear to a circular
model in apparel sector
Arif-uz Zaman & Sayed Abdullah
The fourth Sustainable Apparel
Forum (SAF) highlights the
transformation from a linear to
a circular model in the apparel
sector – including circularity,
climate action, renewable energy,
and human rights due diligence.
The Sustainable Apparel Forum,
held on March 16, witnessed
60 prominent speakers and 20
exhibitors from across the globe
gathered at the Forum organized
by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange
(BAE) highlighting issues including
circularity, climate action, and
human rights due diligence.
H.E. Charles Whiteley, Ambassador
& Head of Delegation, European
Union in Bangladesh highlighted
Bangladesh’s sustainable striDES
and the EU’s assistance in this
regard. Charles Whiteley said,
“Everyone has a responsibility
for a sustainable planet –
governments, industries, civil
society, and individuals. No one
can do everything but we all can
do something to save the planet
by ensuring sustainability. In terms
of sustainability in the apparel
industry, Bangladesh is far ahead
of its competitors by becoming
a center of compliance and
maintaining industrial regulations
to meet the challenges of the
Green transition. The European
Union is with you on this path of
Green transformation.”
“We are also poised to invest
hundreds of millions of euros
in support to generate energy
from renewable sources. To help
the country to meet its goal of
generating 40% energy from
renewable sources by 2041.”
“European Union Chamber and
Commerce will be fully operational
by this year – will assist businesses
in navigating with EU legislations
such as due diligence.”
“The apparel sector is the beating
heart of EU-Bangladesh trade
relations. Apparel exports to
the EU from Bangladesh stood
at €24 billion last year. After
the finalization of the new EU
GSP regulation – some existing
uncertainties in EU-Bangladesh
trade relations will be removed.
We need to intensify the work we
Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023
SAF Event Review
are doing together.”
Mostafiz Uddin, Founder of BAE
and organizer of the SAF, said:
“At every key fashion brand, the
discussion is the same right now.
It is ‘how can we cut our CO2
emissions in order to meet net-
zero targets?’ Circular fashion
could play a dynamic role because
closing the loop means not using
virgin cotton, new fabrics. Instead,
the industry is recycling and
reusing fabric waste, thus not only
decreasing CO2 emissions but
also safeguarding the best use of
natural resources.”
“That is why occasions such as
Sustainable Apparel Forum are
so vital, as they offer a prospect
to explore the trials and drive
collective action for the industry.”
Speakers voiced that a thorough
approach is needed to safeguard a
sustainable business environment
within the supply chain. They
urged all stakeholders to put
determinations together in a
collaborative approach to build
a more sustainable and resilient
supply chain.
71
Unveiling industry best practices Apparel accessories & fashion

March 2023

An initiative of Textile Today

71-73 SAF Event Review 82 Exports Updates
Export volume ($bn) and growth of top exporting
countries of US in January

The Team
$2.50

$1.91
$2.00

$1.44

$1.26
$1.27
$1.50

$0.87
$0.75
$2.50

Tareq Amin

$0.48
$0.44

$0.45
$0.43

$0.32

$0.28
$0.00

Founder & CEO

$0.50
China(-24.296) Vietnam(-0.50%) Bangladesh India(9.77%) Indonesia(4.73%) Cambodia(12.92%)

4th Sustainable Apparel Forum

(15.43%)

2022 2023

highlights transformation from Bangladesh's apparel

a linear to a circular model in exporters regain US market
apparel sector
Amzad Hossain Monir
Head of Business Development
74-76 Textile World 84 Local Brands

Rahbar Hossain
Business Development

Twelve Clothing discloses Eid

collection 2023
SN Abdullah
Nurnahar Tania US apparel companies can’t see
a future without China
84 Industry Best Practices
Arif-uz-Zaman
Research & Development
77 Advertorial

Sanjoy Kumar Saha

Engagement & Communication Fortis Group annual sports day
2023 held in a grand manner

Yeasin Mia 85 Sustainability in Fabric

aeoon Technologies‘ huge pallet
Graphic Design
range: Print without limits!

78 Advertorial
Zakir Hossain R|Elan™ FeelFresh - Wellness
Jr. Executive, Web & IT Solution for New-Age Fashion

80 Advertorial
Ashraful Alam AATCC TM214 tool to measure
Cinematographer accumulated condensation on
fabric
Umeduzzaman Khan Ucchas
Video Editor 80 Consumers Trends
Survey shows 69% US
consumers keen to pay more
APR gets C2C Certified
for sustainability
Md. Ariful Islam Material Health Certificate
Md. Masudur Rahman
Abir Basak
Editorial Contributions

Inquiry:
M. +88 01775 999 748
E. monir@textiletoday.com.bd
W. www.textiletoday.com.bd

At the inauguration ceremony,
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi as
the chief guest sought everyone’s
cooperation to make the country’s
garment industry sustainable and
said that the government policy
can transform the waste-based
economy of the garment industry
into a renewable economy.
Tipu Munshi also said, “Currently
Bangladesh is one of the
fastest-growing economies in
the world. I think the country’s
garment industry can be made
sustainable in two ways. One is the
government policy to transform
the garment industry’s waste-
based economy into a renewable
economy. The second is the
cooperation of all in achieving
the goals of a sustainable apparel
industry.”
Pointing out that the current
government under the leadership
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
is providing overall support in
transforming the waste-based
economy of the garment industry
into a renewable economy, he said,
various initiatives have already
been taken to make the garment
industry sustainable. We can
achieve better results in this field
through everyone’s coordination
and cooperation.
US Ambassador Peter D. Haas was
present as the special guest at the
Forum and said, ‘We are proud
to be the main destination for
garments in Bangladesh. We want
to grow this relationship and also
to talk about the role of labor in
sustainable development.
The US Ambassador said that
the labor quality of Bangladesh
has improved in the last decade
and a half. But there are still
many deficiencies. In many
cases, workers do not have the
opportunity to form a trade union.
Apart from this, there is a need
for further improvement in other
matters related to workers’ wages.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan
said that it is not logical to limit
the issue of responsible business
and sustainable trade to the level
of manufacturers. Building a
sustainable and resilient supply
chain requires concerted efforts
by all stakeholders in an integrated
approach.
He said, several steps have also
been taken to make the industry
greener and cleaner. Bangladesh
now has the highest number of
lead green factories certified by
the US Green Building Council
(USGBC) at 192. Apart from this,
53 of the world’s top 100 green
garment factories are located in
Bangladesh.
“
It is not logical to limit
the issue of responsible
business and sustainable
trade to the level of
manufacturers. Building a
sustainable and resilient
supply chain requires
concerted efforts by
all stakeholders in an
integrated approach.
Faruque Hassan
President, BGMEA
Meanwhile, after the opening
ceremony, 4 plenary sessions
were held on the ready-made
garment industry sector. In these
sessions, local and foreign experts
spoke and discussed the crisis,
challenges and prospects of the
garment sector.
Ranjan Mahtani, Executive
Chairman of EPIC Group said,
“Today ensuring sustainability
is the biggest responsibility for
all of us in the supply chain. Yes,
as an entrepreneur, ensuring
Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023
SAF Event Review
profitability is our priority – but
at the same time taking care of
nature and giving a better working
environment for our workers is
paramount.”
A roundtable discussion titled
‘The Journey towards Circular
Fashion in Bangladesh’ took place,
moderated by Barrister Vidiya
Amrit Khan, Director of BGMEA,
which discussed how Bangladesh’s
apparel sector could harness
circularity to achieve its US$100bn
export goal by 2030.
Local Government Rural
Development and Cooperatives
Minister Tajul Islam was present
as the chief guest in the closing
ceremony in the evening while
Siddiqur Rahman, former president
of BGMEA, Fazle Shamim Ehsan,
vice president of BKMEA and
others were present as special
guests.
Siddiqur Rahman said that the
workers helped run the factory
during Corona pandemic. After
Rana Plaza, there are 192 green
factories and 200 more are in
pipeline. However, buyers don’t
value it and don’t pay extra for it.
Nasrul Hamid MP, Honorable
State Minister, Ministry of Power,
Energy and Mineral Resources,
Bangladesh; Zunaid Ahmed Palak
MP, Honorable State Minister for
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), Bangladesh;
Md. Atiqul Islam, The Mayor of
Dhaka North City Corporation and
Former President BGMEA; Salim
Rahman, Chairman of Al Arafa
Islami Bank and MD of KDS Group;
Naureen Chowdhury, Head of
Labor Rights Programme, Laudes
Foundation; Tuomo Poutiainen,
Country Director, International
Labour Organization (ILO) also
spoke at the forum.
73
Te x t i l e W o r l d

US apparel companies can’t

see a future without China
Jeannette Neumann, Olivia Rockeman & Daniela Wei

Brands are finding few factories outside the country
that can produce the quality and quantity they
require
When Lanny Smith founded Actively Black Inc. in
2020, he hired factories in China to produce the
brand’s athletic wear. But last year, concerned
about production delays caused by China’s Covid
lockdowns, Smith explored buying elsewhere. He
shipped samples to a supply chain agent who’d
assured him there were alternatives in Latin America.
“He hit me back the next day and said, ‘You’re
not going to find anybody who can do this in the
Western Hemisphere,’ ” says Smith, 38, a former
basketball star at the University of Houston.
Figure 1: For apparel, China remains the largest exporter to the
US, topping 10 billion units last year alone, about double what
came from No. 2 Vietnam.
For American companies like Actively Black, buying
from China has become more challenging in recent
Since the 1990s, China has spent hundreds of billions
of dollars transforming itself into the world’s premier
location for manufacturing. Its factories have the
machinery and expertise needed to produce quality
products at a volume and pace that’s difficult to
match. Along the 80-mile stretch from Shenzhen to
Guangzhou, companies can weave, dye, sew, trim,
label and package anything from T-shirts to tuxedos.
And China’s investment in highways, railroads, air
hubs and seaports has created a smooth path from
factory gate to consumers worldwide. “Twenty years
of concentration of manufacturing has created this,
and busting it apart and moving it to other places
on the planet is really hard,” says Kurt Cavano, chief
executive officer of Nimbly Inc., a software platform
that connects clothing brands with factories and suppliers.
Despite growing tensions, US-China trade continues
to thrive. In 2022 the US imported $537 billion in
goods from China, slightly below the record $539
billion in 2018. For apparel, China remains the largest
exporter to the US, topping 10 billion units last year
alone, about double what came from No. 2 Vietnam,
according to the US Department of Commerce. A
majority of suppliers for Levi Strauss, Nike and North
Face owner VF Corp. are in China. And the country
remains the top source of furniture, bedding, lamps,
toys and sports equipment that Americans buy,
according to the most recent US government data.
Share Of US Textile and Apparel imports from China
By value
40%
30

years because of increased tariffs, snarled supply

20
chains, factory shutdowns under Beijing’s Covid
Zero policy and rising geopolitical tensions that have 10

forced America Inc. to contemplate the fallout from a

0
possible invasion of Taiwan.
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Those concerns have led to a surge in pledges

by executives to reduce their reliance on Chinese
China’s advantages are so great that some US
suppliers. But quitting China isn’t easy, and most
companies that have tried to move away have
progress has been concentrated in industries such
returned at least a portion of their production there.
as semiconductors that US lawmakers consider vital
Shoe and accessories maker Steven Madden Ltd.
to national security. Producers of lower-tech, lower-
shifted about half its handbag manufacturing from
margin products such as clothing, shoes, housewares
China to Cambodia in recent years to diversify
and luggage are finding that few factories outside
sourcing and take advantage of lower duties. But those
China have the machinery or the skilled workforce
tariff advantages expired in 2020, and Congress hasn’t
to, for instance, sew what’s known as a six-needle,
renewed the program. “It’s caused us to slow and in
flat-seam stitch—needed for Actively Black gear like
some cases even reverse the shift of production out of
sports bras and shorts because it doesn’t chafe skin.
China,” says Madden CEO Ed Rosenfeld.

74 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023

Te x t i l e W o r l d

While lawmakers have a record of eventually

reinstating lapsed tariff reductions, the uncertainty
makes it more difficult for businesses to commit
to leaving China. “Congress has started the
conversation about diversification, but they haven’t
provided any sort of clear, predictable guidance
or policy prescriptions on how to continue it,”
says Steve Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel &
Footwear Association, an industry group of nearly
600 retailers and suppliers.
And when companies move manufacturing out of
China, they often end up working with Chinese-
owned suppliers or sourcing components and
Figure 2: Shoe and accessories maker Steven Madden has
materials from the country. Thomas Nichols, returned some of its handbag manufacturing to China from
president of Pretika Corp., which makes skin-care Cambodia in the past couple of years. Courtesy: Collected.
devices, has shifted production of some electric
Despite lower labor costs elsewhere, “we just can’t
facial brushes from China to Malaysia for a trial run.
afford to leave this ecosystem,” she says.
But the batteries, motor and other parts for the
brushes still come from China. Even though the US Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to boost
cost per item will likely be higher because of the investment in Central America to counter China’s
extra step of bringing parts in from China, he aims dominance and to create jobs that would help stem
to start shipping Malaysia-made brushes to the US migration from the region to the US. The White
this summer. “China has just done a very effective job House says her efforts have yielded more than
of ensuring world-class production and having the $4 billion in investment commitments. Columbia
component supplies within the country,” Nichols says. Sportswear Co. has pledged to buy up to $200
million of products from factories in Central America
The dominance of some Chinese suppliers can make
over the next five years. That will likely be simple
it difficult to find alternatives. Textile manufacturer
sportswear such as fishing shirts, says Peter Bragdon,
Texhong International Group and its dozens of
Columbia’s chief administrative officer, because
subsidiaries account for almost two-thirds of global
the region lacks the diversity of fabrics, threads
trade in certain grades of cotton-spandex materials,
and other materials available in Asia. Growth there
according to researcher Altana Technologies.
“happened over the course of decades. It’s not going
That is further complicated by US and European
to happen overnight anywhere else,” he says.
regulations restricting the use of cotton from China’s
northwestern Xinjiang region because of human- And alternatives come with their own political and
rights abuses there. economic complexities. Haggar Clothing Co., a top
seller of men’s trousers in the US, moved about 5%
But it’s often difficult to figure out where materials
of its production from Asia to Kenya and Ethiopia
come from, and alternatives aren’t always readily
several years ago. But the Kenyan factories took too
available, says Leo Bonnani, CEO of supply
long to source fabrics, and Ethiopia lost its duty-free
chain consultant Sourcemap. “The actual task of
status with the US in 2022 because of human-rights
redesigning supply chains to meet these standards
violations during the country’s civil war, so Haggar
can take many months after the initial discovery of a
stopped producing in both countries. Still, Tony
risk,” Bonnani says.
Anzovino, the company’s sourcing chief, says he was
Part of the difficulty is that many Chinese companies impressed with Ethiopian factories: “I’ll be back there
have set up shop abroad to diversify their own as soon as duty-free status is put back.”
production and benefit from lower labor costs.
While Haggar assembles only a small percentage
Garment manufacturing giant Shenzhou International
of its products in China, it gets about 20% of its
Group Holdings has invested heavily in Vietnam and
raw materials from the country. That’s down from
Cambodia, and today only about half its factories
the 60% to 70% five years ago, but Chinese fabrics
are in China, down from 90% in 2013. But Chinese
remain essential for Haggar’s dress pants and suits.
manufacturers more typically rely on the same dense
“China is still the workhorse with regards to fabric,”
web of suppliers that keeps US companies there.
Anzovino says. “Everyone is finding it difficult to
“Imagine you want sequins to put on 100 T-shirts,” move a lot of things out of China because China
says Vicky Wu, owner of an apparel factory with does so many things so well. The expertise is there,
more than 60 workers in downtown Guangzhou. the equipment is there.”
“You can just get them in a store on the same street.”
The Article was first published on Bloomberg.

76 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023

aeoon Technologies‘ huge pallet range:
Print without limits!
aeoon Technologies offers high-quality, industrial
Direct-To-Garment printing solutions that are
designed, tested, developed and produced directly
in their headquarters in Austria. aeoon machines are
extremely flexible, as they are built modularly and
offer beautiful printing results at a very fast pace.
There is an aeoon printer for almost any size and
shape of business – from the smallest machine which
has an output of 65 pieces/hour on dark garments,
up to the biggest printer, that can print 180 pieces/
hour on dark garments. aeoon Technologies offers
fantastic support and help you set up your business
for success with their experience in DTG printing.
As you know, T-Shirts are the most common garment
to be printed on. But there is a growing demand for
other textiles such as trousers, hoodies, hats, etc.
That is why – in order to keep up with customer’s
demands – you will need different pallet options.
aeoon offers the wiDESt range of pallets currently on
the market. You can get pallets for hoodies, trousers,
sleeves, babybodies, masks and even compression
socks. The Austrian manufacturer also proviDES
customers with frameless pallets – the biggest of
which measures at an incredible 200x98cm and
vacuum pallets. However, as aeoon designs and
develops all pallets in their headquarters, they also
customise them for customers if need be, so they
have exactly what they need to fulfil their customers’
demands. The pallets are built from high-quality
metal components and aeoon has recently reduced
their weight by 25-30% so they are even easier to
use than ever before.
The design possibilities you have with aeoon’s pallets
are incredible. You are able to print on almost any
type of garment, on different positions. Of course,
you can also print on different materials such as
cotton, polyester, denim, mixed fibres, silk and even
leather.
Keep up with the industry’s demands and find your
place in the Direct-To-Garment printing business.
If you want to become a part of the global aeoon
Family, get in touch with aeoon’s distribution partner
in Bangladesh, Duster Limited, right now via
info@dusterbd.com
Advertorial
R|Elan™ FeelFresh - Wellness
Solution for New-Age Fashion
R|Elan™ Story
Growing emphasis on hygiene and wellness in the
world of fashion
Health, Hygiene and Wellness have now become a
priority for most consumers in the purchases they
make. The same trend has been seen in the world
of fashion wherein consumers are seeking apparel
with inherent functional benefits that enhance their
wellness. Over the last couple of years, wellness
apart from being a lifestyle choice has also become
an influential trend in global fashion.
Antimicrobial fabrics are in demand because they are
effective in improving consumer experience. This has
been key to clothing that is wearable and comfortable,
at the same time fashionable and functional.
The Research & Development (R&D) Department
at Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) constantly strive
to innovate and develop new technologies and
products that enhances end consumers’ experience
and satisfaction. The various R|Elan™ technologies
developed by RIL’s R&D Department has imparted
performance enhancement, wellness features to the
products and these are trend-setters in the fashion
industry. R|Elan™ FeelFresh fabric is the outcome of
one of such innovations.
R|Elan™ FeelFresh fabric – Be Fresh 24x7
R|Elan™ FeelFresh, the next-generation wellness
fabric with permanent antimicrobial properties
is used to manufacture apparel across different
categories, masks and PPE. R|Elan™ FeelFresh is also
a preferred choice for manufacturing environment
friendly apparels as it constrains manifestation of
bad odour. This is due to the inherent antimicrobial
property in R|Elan™ FeelFresh, even after extended
usage of the garment thereby, reducing the need for
frequent washing - saving water, electricity, energy and
time besides extending life and look of the garment.
R|Elan™ FeelFresh fabric has been created
from specially-engineered fibres and yarns with
embedded silver that inhibits bacterial growth in the
78 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023
garment thus reducing bad odour generated from
body sweat. Since this technology is inherent in the
fibre, the functional benefits continue to remain even
after multiple garment washes. This smart fabric has
been designed to enhance comfort and aesthetics
making it one of the most sought-after fabric by
renowned domestic and global brands, retailers and
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R|Elan™ FeelFresh - Versatile solution used by brands
and retailers across different fashion categories
Over the last few years, various brands have
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and hygiene. Thus, stylish yet high-performance
apparel and accessories for consumers are possible
with R|Elan™ FeelFresh fabric’s anti-microbial technology.
R|Elan™ FeelFresh fabric provides brands with
inherent anti-microbial technology to power different
apparel fashion segments like denim, activewear,
casualwear, athleisure, sportswear, formalwear,
innerwear etc. It also enables brands to address the
emerging needs of consumers in the wellness and
hygiene segments.
As a new product innovation, R|Elan™ FeelFresh
fabric technology can also be made available in
recycled fibers that are manufactured using 100%
post-consumer used PET bottles.
Consumers today want to stay fresh and active apart
from looking stylish and fashionable. Now, garments
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R|Elan™ is Fabric 2.0 – fabric of the future.
About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):
Reliance is India’s largest private sector company,
with a consolidated turnover of INR 539,238 crore
($73.8 billion), cash profit of INR 79,828 crore
($10.9 billion), and net profit of INR 53,739 crore
($7.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2021.
Reliance’s activities span hydrocarbon exploration
and production, petroleum refining and marketing,
petrochemicals, retail and digital services. Reliance is
the top-most ranked company from India to feature
in Fortune’s Global 500 list of “World’s Largest
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companies. It features among LinkedIn’s ‘The Best
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Advertorial C o n s u m e r s Tr e n d s

APR gets C2C Certified Material Health Certificate

Desk Report

Recently, APR’s viscose staple
fiber has been awarded the Cradle
to Cradle (C2C) Certified Material
Health Certificate at the Silver level
from the Cradle to Cradle Products
Innovation Institute.
Figure: APR’s viscose staple fiber has
been awarded the Cradle to Cradle (C2C)
Certified Material Health Certificate at
the Silver level from the Cradle to Cradle
Products
The award proves that 100% of the
chemical substances used in Asia
Pacific Rayon fiber production,
and meet the Institute’s strict
criteria set out in the material
health certificate standard.
“Consumers have the right to
expect the fibers used in their
daily lives to deliver when it comes
to maternal health. Receiving
the Cradle to Cradle Products
Innovation Institute’s Silver
Level Cradle to Cradle Certified
Material Health Certificate is
another positive step for APR in
demonstrating the safe use of
materials, that our products are
circular and responsibly produces,”
said Susan Slabbert, Head of
Sustainability at APR.
At APR, they are committed
to responsible manufacturing
practices and ensuring the safety
of their products for people and
the environment.
For this, the C2C Material Health
Certificate verifies that the
chemicals and materials used
in their products, which has no
impact on human health and
the environment and generate a
positive impact on the quality of
materials available for future use
and cycling.
To achieve this certification,
APR has been collaborated with
Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG), an
assessment body accredited by
the Cradle to Cradle Products
Innovation Institute.
“The C2C product standard
incentivizes environmentally and
socially responsible manufacturing
practices, and we’re proud to be
at the forefront of sustainable
manufacturing,” she added.

Survey shows 69% US consumers

keen to pay more for sustainability
Amena Kamal Khan

As per a study from Blue Yonder – a digital supply
chain company – a notable 69% of consumers in the
USA persist to invest in eco-mindful practices.
The survey showed that US consumers were prepared
to pay a premium for sustainable fashion that would
profoundly influence their daily lives, with apparel
(30%) being one of the most prospective categories.
Garments were one of the highest three consumer
goods categories that might be bought second-
hand. Thrifting second-hand apparel remains
prevalent, with nearly 31 percent listing this as
the eco-conscious practice they perform most
frequently. Reusable bags also remain wiDESpread
among fashion lovers, with 24 percent ranking
custom as their most common ecologically friendly
practice in 2022.
The study results also demonstrated that only 4%
of respondents said they would pay 20% more.
Moreover, 48% of study participants expressed an
increased interest in sustainability over the past year.
Most notably, among the shoppers, it was reflected
that they are willing to pay 5 percent more for
sustainable fashion products was the top selection.
As per Blue Yonder’s 2023 Consumer Sustainability
Survey, the recent high inflation remains to dominate
factor for many consumers – as many as 58%
reported that price was the most vital factor in
settling whether to make a sustainable buying.
E-commerce has rushed in the past few years,
customers are more than pleased to choose eco-
conscious shipping swiftness, with 78 percent eager to
wait up to a week for a late delivery. A whopping 86
percent of participants were ready to delay their online
shipping if they were given the incentive to do so.
Ed Wong, Senior Vice President, Global Retail Sector
Leader, Blue Yonder said, “We are satisfied to see
that US consumers remain as attentive as ever on
adopting eco-conscious practices, with nearly 74%
reporting shopping at retailers with sustainable
products in the last six months.”
“It is clear that a symbiosis between brands and
consumers must drive successful, environmentally
friendly shopping. We’re deeply encouraged by
how many respondents are willing to consider a
sustainable product and company across resale and
new product sales,” Ed Wong added.

80 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023

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Exports Updates

Bangladesh's apparel
exporters regain US market
Arif-Uz-Zaman

Bangladesh's apparel exports to the US market are exporting 5.15% and 4.17% of apparel products.
on a positive trend. Total exports in the first month of
Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters
this year stood at $867.64 million, which was $751.67
Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hassan said
million in the same period of 2022. This information
the performance in the US market was 'very good' -
is known from the statistics of the Office of Textiles
considering the local and global economic conditions
and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of
as well as overall US imports.
Commerce.
The BGMEA president highlighted manufacturing
Bangladesh was the third largest single export
destination after China and Vietnam with
a market share of 8.84% in January 2023,
Export volume ($bn) and growth of top exporting
compared to 9.78% in the same period in
2022. However, in the first seven months countries of US in January
$2.50
(July-January) of the current financial
$1.91

year 2022-23, apparel exports to the $2.00

United States have declined by 1.98%,

$1.44

$1.26
$1.27

$1.50
according to the Export Promotion

$0.87
Bureau (EPB) data.
$0.75
$2.50

$0.48
$0.44

$0.45
$0.43

$0.32
Comparing these two data from OTEXA

$0.28
$0.00

and EPB, it can be said that export

$0.50
performance in USA from Bangladesh is China(-24.296) Vietnam(-0.50%) Bangladesh India(9.77%) Indonesia(4.73%) Cambodia(12.92%)
soaring in the New Year 2023 which is (15.43%)

2022 2023
a good signal for the country’s exporters.
According to OTEXA, total apparel
of value-added garments as well as product
imports to the United States reached $7.25 billion
diversification – especially non-cotton-based
in January 2023. Which is a decrease of 3.44% from
garment manufacturing, as the driving force behind
$7.52 billion in January 2022. Bangladesh's main
the growth.
competitors such as China, Vietnam and Cambodia
have experienced negative growth in apparel exports Moreover, Bangladesh has received some orders
to the US. from China amid the US-China trade dispute, he
noted.
Among exporters, China accounted for 24.61% of
exports in January 2023, earning $1.44 billion, which BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel said, the positive
is down to 24.2% from $1.91 billion in the same period growth in the US market is proof of Bangladesh's
of 2022. strength. It also shows how strong our position
will be if the global economy fully recovers from
At the same time, Vietnam exported $1.26 billion
the effects of Covid-19 and war. US buyers and
worth of apparel products which was $1.27 billion in
consumers put us ahead of other competitors as
2022, a decrease of 0.50%.
a sourcing country. We believe our position will be
After Bangladesh, India is in the fourth position stronger in the future.
with 5.2% of the market share, exported garments
However, amid consumer financial concerns and
worth $484.98 million in January 2023. Last year,
economic uncertainty, US apparel sales were
India exported $441.8 billion, that is, their exports
expected to decline, according to various estimates.
increased by 9.77%.
According to a recent report published by McKinsey
According to OTEXA data, apparel exports from
& Company, the fashion industry is once again facing
Indonesia to the United States rose 4.73% to $453.83
a challenging climate. This recession is expected to
million in the first month of 2023. At the same time,
continue till 2023. The global economic slowdown is
exports from Cambodia to the market decreased by
increasingly reflected in consumer shopping habits
12.92% to $282.75 million worth of apparel products.
heading into an unpredictable year ahead.
The two countries are ranked fifth and sixth by

82 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023

Local Brands Industry Best Practices

Twelve Clothing discloses Eid collection 2023

Desk Report

Twelve Clothing Ltd. of TEAM Group – a lifestyle
fashion brand organized a fashion show ‘Twelve
Runway’ on 10 March night on the roof of Le Meridien
Hotel in Dhaka, where dozens of top models from
around the country participated. The fashion show
was organized under the direction of Azra Mahmud.
Figure: Twelve created ethnic collection, mens, women, and kids.
Punjabi, the center of attraction for Eid collection, has unique
and eye-catchy designs.
Twelve Clothing puts a great effort into making
clothes that fit and please every individual customer.
They only make such products that they consider
attractive, high quality, contemporary, genuine and
affordable as they want people to love their clothes
and be confident while wearing them.
This fashion show turned into a gathering of the
best journalists of the country where the privileged
customers of Twelve were also present here.
Team Group’s Managing Director Abdullah Hill Rakib
said, “We organized this gala runway to interact
with our valued clients. We believe ‘Twelve Clothing’
is connected with our customers’ happiness and
sadness through its collections.”
“We not only think about clothes but also try to
design the collections keeping modern trends and
fashion in mind. We want each and every person to
feel confident while wearing our clothes and be the
best versions of themselves,” he added.
Twelve has always emphasized seasonal variation
in its Eid collection. They have designed their Eid
collection by initiating innovation in both ethnic and
western sections. They named the entire collection
‘Royal Delicacy’ as they include a touch of royal
stylishness in this year’s Twelve’s dress designs.
Designers of Twelve created the collection with a
combination of prints, embroideries and different
forms of ornamentations in three categories of
ethnic collection, mens, women, and kids. Punjabi,
the center of attraction for Eid collection, has unique
and eye-catchy designs.
They have also launched a complete set of boys Pajama-
Punjabi along with matching stylishkoti sets. Nationwide,
36 outlets of Twelve is filled with their contemporary
clothing line including three-piece salwar kameez, a two-
piece kurta for women. The entire fashion show was full
of clothes that represented Twelve.
BesiDES, in terms of western collection, mens polo
t-shirts, casual shirt, jeans and various stylish clothes
were on display at the fashion show. Women’s
collection of western wear consists of tops, tunic and
different types of jeans.

Fortis Group annual sports day 2023 held in a grand manner

Sayed Abdullah

Fortis Group – a Bangladesh and his satisfaction with the current

Germany jointly owned apparel
exporting company – recently
organized its 3-day-long annual
sports day at Fortis Sports Ground in
Purbachal in a grand manner.
Mr. Shahadat Hossan, Managing
Director, Fortis Group inaugurated
the event with a welcoming speech.
Mr. Shahadat Hossan, has reinstated
the importance of automation from
sourcing to the manufacturing
process to overcome current global
market challenges.
He also appraised the employees
of Fortis Group for their efficient
contributions and expressed
workforce of Fortis Group. He
emphasized conducting this sort of
program on a regular basis for reducing
monotonous workload and providing
such refreshment that enhances the
efficiency of the workforce.
The 3-day-long annual sports
included: football matches, cricket
matches, a 100-meter running
Figure: Shahadat Hossan (3rd from right),
competition, sack race, golf Managing Director, Fortis Group handed the
participation, pillow passing, bowl trophies to the winning teams.
break, prize-giving ceremony,
Fortis Group’s eight concerns teams
special recognition of 10-year
participated in various sports activities.
employment, fashion show, music
Mr. Shahadat Hossan handed the
session, dance program, raffle
trophies to the winning teams.
draw and closing ceremony.

84 Bangladesh Textile Today | March 2023

Sustainability in Fabric

AATCC TM214 tool to

measure accumulated
condensation on fabric
Arif-Uz-Zaman

ASAHIFIX XP SERIES
R
The American Association of Textile Chemists and
Colorists (AATCC) has introduced a new test method
to measure accumulated condensation in a fabric, a
The art of dyeing textiles and garments with the confidence by
‘critical step’ in driving sustainable practices within
achieving the ultimate performance.
the supply chain.
The new test method of AATCC TM214 is a tool for
assessing the performance of fabrics in wet and
dry conditions, applicable to cloths, tent fabrics and
medical and technical temporary shelters. However, the
condensation rate depends greatly on the temperature
and vapor pressure throughout a fabric system.
According to the AATCC Research Committee,
the new method is designed to measure water
condensation on the inner (back) surface of
waterproof fabrics in humid microclimates. During
testing, the outer fabric (face) surface is subjected
to dry and wet conditions (simulated rainfall).
Condensation is calculated by calculating the
mass change of a filter paper attached to the inner
chamber for a specified period of time. TECHNOLOGY

RFT
HIGH HIGH
HIGH COLOUR HIGH HIGH HIGH COLOUR PLF/CHLORINE
RETENTION WASH-OFF FIXATION RFT FASTNESS FASTNESS

ECOLOGY

FULFILING LOW LOW ETP LOW STEAM LOW CO2

COMPLIENCE WATER CONS: DISCHARGE CONS: EMISSION
Figure: AATCC has introduced a new test method to measure
accumulated condensation in a fabric, a ‘critical step’ in driving
sustainable practices within the supply chain.

The test apparatus consists of an inner chamber

(microenvironment) and an outer chamber
ZDHC Level 3
(simulated precipitation). The test can be conducted Registered
inside an environmental chamber or under ambient
conditions. This feature allows a wide range of users
across different textile systems for an accurate
representation of a company's unique platform. Cooperate Head Office
There are several existing test methods to measure Asahi Dyes and Chemicals Co. Ltd. 1-14-304, Koyocho-Naka,
the effectiveness of moisture transport systems
Higashinada-Ku Postal code: 658-0032, Kobe, Hyogo-JAPAN
'through the fabric. But the AATCC is the first Tel: +81-78-858-6707 Email: info@asahidyes.jp
method to measure condensation caused by the
microclimate of textile products
Founded in 1921, AATCC has been connecting
Sole Agent
the global textile community to empower a more Asons Bangladesh PVT Limited

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Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
Tel: +88 02 48956778
B A N G L A D E S H
Email: info@asonsbd.com