Apparels

To restore normalcy in garment production units, factory owners in Bangladesh and the interim government today agreed to meet all 18 demands of workers for which protests continued for more than a month.
While 16 of the 18 demands were addressed during an emergency meeting yesterday, manufacturers were not ready to form a new wage board or implement the annual 10-per cent wage increment demanded.

Newbie, Kappahl Group’s sustainable children’s brand, is expanding in the UK with three new London-area stores in Canary Wharf, Brent Cross, and Guildford, growing its UK presence to seven stores.
Known for its timeless, eco-friendly collections, Newbie aims to expand both physical and online retail, with a focus on sustainability through initiatives like PreLoved, offering second-hand clothing.

Apparel industry transformation is driven by sustainability, geopolitics and technological advancements.
Key drivers include eco-friendly practices becoming non-negotiable, e-commerce reshaping consumer engagement and supply chain shifts beyond China due to trade uncertainties.
Emerging markets, innovation in smart textiles and adherence to sustainable fashion trends are also influencing it.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports fell by 4.20 per cent to $18.039 billion in H1 2024, with Europe being the largest market.
Other key markets included North America and Asia-Pacific.
Political unrest in July and global economic headwinds contributed to the decline.
Following a peak of $43.490 billion in 2022, exports dropped by 20.58 per cent in 2023 and sluggish demand continues into 2024.

Deltaport Limited is set to invest $36 million to establish a garment manufacturing facility in BEPZA Economic Zone.
The factory will produce 20 million garments annually, including protective clothing and PPE, creating 5,980 jobs for Bangladeshi nationals.
BEPZA officials urged the company to begin construction promptly after the agreement signing.

Workers in some garment factories in Bangladesh’s Ashulia and Gazipur industrial belts began protesting again yesterday demanding higher attendance bonuses.
The Dhaka-Mymensingh highway was blocked by workers from Mondal Intimates Limited at Bagher Bazar in Gazipur.
Workers from Asrotex Limited in Sreepur’s Natun Bazar also went on strike demanding a minimum attendance bonus.

Kazakhstan’s apparel imports fell by 5.86 per cent to $996 million in H1 2024, down from $1.06 billion H1 2023.
China’s share, although still the largest, decreased by 16.08 per cent, representing 48.77 per cent of total imports.
Despite this decline, Kazakhstan’s apparel imports have historically been higher in the second half of the year, with 2023 seeing a 108.24 per cent annual increase.

The number of LEED-certified green factories in Bangladesh is 229 now, after three more apparel and textile factories were recently certified by the US Green Building Council: Sepal Garments Ltd in Gazipur, Unitex Spinning Ltd (Unit-2) in Chattogram and Ananta Huaxiang Limited in Narayanganj.
The country is now home to 61 of the top 100 highest-rated LEED certified factories in the world.

The United Kingdom imported $484.353 million worth of apparel from Italy in the first half (H1) of the current year, accounting for 5.42 per cent of its total apparel imports.
Italy remained the UK’s fifth-largest apparel supplier, behind China, Bangladesh, Turkiye, and India.
Top imported items included jerseys, dresses, trousers, and shirts.

Cambodia has set the 2025 monthly minimum wage for the garment, footwear and travel goods sector at $208—a rise of $4 from this year.
The rise includes a $2 adjustment decided during the final round of talks, with an additional $2 added at the instruction of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The government will continue to intervene to manage housing rents and utility bills to improve workers’ conditions.