Washing is the most prominent vertical growth sector in Bangladesh. Day by day, its popularity is going to the apex. That is why investors are coming forward to grab this business opportunity. If we look at a few years back, we can see this sector stood in the poor basement. There was not enough expert and educated personnel in this section literally. Foreign experts, especially from Turkey, directed the country’s wash department. They did not want to flash the working procedure and recipe with local staffs. However, gradually that weird situation has changed a lot. Many export-oriented washing plants have been developed and are developing. Local experts have grown with adequate knowledge who are bouncing this trendy sector now.
Wash is popular in jeans
If we think about jeans, the first color ‘blue’ comes in our mind, especially in denim. However, in addition to blue, various types of colorful or faded jeans are also on demand. These variations come after washing usually. One of the most important parts of the creation of the beautiful denim jeans is washing.
Engr. Maidul Islam Morad, Wash Technician (R&D) of Elaine Apparels Ltd (JHR Group) said, “The real magic of jeans is wash. The washing habits that currently underway include an enzyme, dip dye, acid wash, stone enzyme wash or random wash and reactive, disperse, dischargeable dyeing. These washed clothes are worn by young age boys and girls. Usually, stone, enzyme, vintage or towel wash in jeans pant are seen frequently. Medium and acid wash are run in the shirt. To make the difference in the belt loop, it is set slantwise in many pants. Apart from this, it is seen the difference in the coin pocket shape. Top or bottom jeans, there is stylish magic with the warmth of winter.”
Nowadays, different types of eye-catching wash bear extra dimension in the denim fashion world. Washed clothes are being gotten extra importance to the western and eastern generation. Generally, the demand for washed, faded, bleached, soft, torn denim remains as skyscraper than solid denim. Not only denim, but washing is also being done in normal woven or knit attires. So, based on this growing demand, buyers are going to make more washed clothes.
Why Bangladesh is ahead in jeans making
Currently, denim clothes are being made from 300-400 garment factories here in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Textile Mill Association (BTMA), Bangladesh currently has 31 denim fabric manufacturing factories. But yet, denim is imported 40-50 percent of the demand. However, traders said that the country’s three to four new denim mills will start their production soon.
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The way forward in jeans in Bangladesh is the ‘wash’, through which dark and light shades of denim clothes are brought. As jeans without washing are worthless. To wash, garments are treated with chemicals and with big machinery. After, the washing process is done with the sandpaper or with the help of a laser. Cheap labor, low gas price, available water drawing the foreign buyers and investors in Bangladesh. The factories here make each of the quality jeans at an average of nine to fifteen dollars which is very affordable for the buyers.
Levi’s, Diesel, Wrangler, Replay, Hugo Boss, G-Star Raw, Lee, Pepe, Tommy & Hilfiger, Jack and Jones, Calvin Klein, H&M, Uniqlo, Gap, Tesco, Walmart, JC Penny, LPP, Debenhams, Zara, Kmart, Sears, Decathlon, Guess, Gucci, Lidl, Espirit are among the world’s best brands of jeans and almost all of them make their jeans from Bangladeshi factories. Denim shirts, jackets, and kids’ garments are also made as well.
The number denim production mills are increasing in Bangladesh apparently and export of denim products has been increased significantly. As it is available to get fabrics from local, attires are sent quickly this is exactly what the buyers want.
Mahbub Mredha, Head of R&D (washing) of Tarasima Apparels Ltd said, “Earlier we had to import denim fabrics but now our locally produced fabric quality has been improved a lot and capacity has also increased. As a result, world-famous brands are now making high priced unique designed & washed jeans from Bangladesh.”
“The number denim production mills are increasing in Bangladesh apparently and export of denim products has been increased significantly. As it is available to get fabrics from local, attires are sent quickly this is exactly what the buyers want,” Mredha continued.
R&D culture
It is an important part of washing to go forward towards innovation. Besides, it is such a place where any employee can showcase his/her level of creativity. To attract the buyers, the factories show their new product, style and innovation usually but still maximum designs are provided from respective buyers. That indicates Research and Development (R&D) section is not much developed yet.
There are some factories like Bitopi group, Nassa, Beximco, IDS, Denimach, Envoy etc. has their own design studio where local and foreign designers develop exclusive samples. So, if the local manufacturers emphasize R&D and effective innovation, profit margin could be increased.
Number of washing plants
We can undoubtedly say that the number of washing factories in the country is far more than ever. Good quality washing factories have been developed in the combination of modern equipment and in working friendly environment. Out of them, many factories received LEED Platinum certificate and got accredited from different renowned buyers. Every year many plants are being developed with advanced technology. According to the information given by Bangladesh Garments Washing Technologist Foundation (BGWTF), more than five hundred washing plants are spread over the country. But the numbers of registered plants of organization (2016) are 255.
Thoughts from fashion houses about trendy denim
Although it’s a whole year phenomenon, the demand for denim products has increased much before the coming of winter. Mohammed Pavel, Manager of ‘Freeland’ a local popular fashion house said, “Straight, narrow and slim fit- these three types of denim styles are now popular among the young generation. Regular jeans are now being mostly replaced by super skinny jeans and stretchable tapered jeans. Nowadays jeans is becoming popular with girls because of its stretchy nature, comfortably etc.”
“Damage and destroy the look of denim is more trendy to men. Currently, denim’s trendy vintage look (old look) is more popular. Fashionable various printed designs of denim products are available in the market,” he added.
Asif Iqbal, Fashion Designer of a local fashion house O2 said, “Due to the popularity among young people, the variety of washing is being done nowadays. Especially in winter, it has seen more variety of denim clothing. Young people are wearing top and bottom-wise denim clothes.”
The government and garment sector entrepreneurs have set export targets of US$ 50 billion from the garment sector by 2021. But it is not possible to reach this target only by exporting low-end garments. So, manufacturers have to go forward to produce high value-added and fashionable products such as denim. And there is no substitute for washing to look appetizing fashionable denim attire.
Also Read: What will be the “Denim Trend of 2019”?
