Apparel Sourcing Week, 20 - 22 February 2020 - Bengaluru, India
20 - 21 July 2023
Bengaluru, India

Press Release 12 November 2019

ASW 2020 showcases the Indian subcontinent, a comprehensive sourcing hub for retailers

If there is any region in the world which can be considered as a wholesome sourcing destination for apparels, it is the Indian subcontinent. Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka are major garment manufacturing hubs that have strengths which make them favourites with buyers and also complement each other. Practically every international buyer is in these three countries working not only on their core competence, but also developing new capabilities, as the hubs are being seen as strong alternates to China in the wake of the increasing interest to build a China plus-one strategy for garment sourcing.
While retailers and buyers search for best options in the changing dynamics of global business, apparel manufacturing countries are feeling the heat, restructuring themselves according to the changing requirements of the brands.
Bangladesh – Proactive approach appeals to buyers looking for competitive balance of quantity and price
Though Vietnam has recently grown at a fast pace, Bangladesh has been the world’s second largest garment exporter for many years for a reason. For the country, the industry is very critical with 83 per cent of exports coming from the RMG sector which contributes 20 per cent to its GDP and garment manufacturing employs around 4.50 million people in the country.
The biggest strength of the country is its adaptability to change with the evolving global pace in the fashion industry, which is further boosted by the relatively cheaper and vast workforce. Despite recent hikes in wage rates, the minimum wage in Bangladesh is still lower than that in China, Cambodia, India and Vietnam and that also adds an edge over its competitors.
Significantly, Bangladesh qualifies for duty-free market access or reduced tariff facilities to 52 developed and developing nations including countries in the EU, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Russia, Norway, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Additionally, Bangladeshi garment manufacturers and exporters have built excellent vertical capacities which help global brands ensure more transparency and coordination in their supply chains. The country has set itself a target of achieving apparel exports worth US $ 50 billion by 2021. In FY 19, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) states that Bangladesh’s RMG exports grew by 11.50 per cent, reaching US $ 34.13 billion.
India – Complete textile value chain consolidates its position as fashion makers
With a traditionally strong base in textiles and numerous clusters for value additions, any buyer looking at sourcing value-added garments thinks India. The country provides a complete supply chain and infrastructure to the manufacturers who have the experience to make any kind of garment. Additionally, policies such as ‘Make in India’ are supporting the industry which is not only strengthening the traditional regions like Ludhiana, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad, Tirupur and Bengaluru, but also assisting in the upgradation of its eastern states, which will provide wider scope for the manufacturers.
Logistics is another positive for India. With 13 sea ports, India forms one of the biggest peninsulas in the world and can handle huge volumes or shipment with ease.
However, the buyers may think while looking at the export data that the country is not doing well but, on macro level, India is actually regaining the strength for which it was once known in the world. Most importantly, the country is not running behind the orders shifting from China as it is competing with its closest competitors. Recently, India surpassed Indonesia to become the 4th top exporter to the US market.
Sri Lanka – Benchmarked leaders in sustainable and high-quality manufacturing
For any buyer looking to enhance its sustainable image and work with factories that have a reputation of not only talking ethical and Green, but are also leaders in sustainable practices, Sri Lanka is the chosen destination. Worn by quality-conscious consumers all over the world, products belonging to top international brands of sportswear, lingerie and swimwear are sourced and manufactured in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s apparel sector outperforms other South Asian countries in terms of quality in garments, short lead time, reliability, along with social compliance and sustainability. These factors have helped Sri Lankan apparel industry evolve from traditional exports and tailoring designs to providing sophisticated solutions, creativity and experience. Automation and lean manufacturing have been core drivers for the garment industry of Sri Lanka in the last few years, the primary goal of which is to enable factories and employees become more productive.
Visit ASW 2020 between 20 and 22 February, to meet and interact with companies from the subcontinent. The 3-day event is scheduled to be held at the prestigious Sheraton Grand, Bengaluru.
To register, visit www.apparelsourcingweek.com

About Apparel Sourcing Week 2023

Apparel Sourcing Week 2023, a three-day Sourcing Show not only provides the Asian manufacturers a platform to showcase their products & manufacturing capabilities to the Brands & Retailers from all over the world including India, but also extends them a chance to attend the multiple seminars (headed by industry experts), workshops, open-house discussions and networking opportunities organised during these three days, which would help the manufacturers get a better understanding of Indian and International Retail and evolving dynamics of sourcing in various markets and retail formats.

About the Organiser

Apparel Resources is well known for its benchmark publications – Apparel Online, FashTech Journal and Resource Guide published from India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. These publications have been around in the industry for over 35 years, supporting, guiding and standing by garment exporters and the retail industry globally, providing them a platform to source better