Most European buyers skip 'Made in Bangladesh' label

[bluesky]

12:00 AM, October 19, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 10:13 AM, October 19, 2018
Most European buyers skip 'Made in Bangladesh' label

Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Nearly 70 percent of the European clothing retailers skip out on using the 'Made in Bangladesh' line in the tags -- a puzzling practice that undermines the aptitude of the country's garment makers.

Bangladesh is the second largest apparel supplier in the world with a 6.5 percent share of the market.

The poor image of the country, stemming from sub-standard workplace safety and low payment to workers, have compelled the European apparel companies to avoid the 'Made in Bangladesh' label, according to industry insiders.

Moreover, it is not mandatory in the European Union to state the country of origin of the garment; only the fabric composition and care instructions are needed in the labelling, said Faruque Hassan, vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

The same retailers use the countries of origin for others though. It is only in case of Bangladesh that they forfeit transparency.
Hassan, however, ruled out the possibility of Bangladesh's garment products being re-branded as another country's in the absence of the 'Made in Bangladesh' line in the tags.

Both the buyers and manufacturers have strict tracking system now, Hassan said.

Labeling the country of origin or the country of export is mandatory under the Tariff Act of 1930 in the US, so all American retailers use the 'Made in Bangladesh' line in the tags.

“Actually, we also did not pursue the European buyers or the European governments to make it mandatory to write the line 'Made in Bangladesh' on the tags,” Hassan said, adding that the garment manufacturers have taken a branding initiative to brighten their image.

For example, Bangladesh can now proudly proclaim that its garment sector is amongst the safest in the world after inspection and remediation of the factory buildings by the Accord and Alliance.

Moreover, Bangladesh has the highest number of green factory buildings in the world, he said. Currently, 73 green garment factories are in operation in Bangladesh, with more than 300 awaiting certification by the US Green Building Council.

The quality of products from Bangladesh has improved a lot over the years due to the installation of modern machinery, high-quality design and fashion education.

“But it has not been branded accurately among the Western customers by the local garment manufacturers.”

Almost all the major clothing brands source from Bangladesh due to its competitive pricing, according to Hassan.

“We have also hiked the wage of workers as per the recommendations of some of the buyers,” he added.

KI Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association, echoed the same as Hassan.

“We need a very good public relations initiative to brighten the image of the country and remove some of the wrong ideas about Bangladesh from the minds of the customers.”

Moreover, the garment manufacturers need to insist on the 'Made in Bangladesh' line in the tags. “They should have done it a lot earlier,” he added.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

For example, Bangladesh can now proudly proclaim that its garment sector is amongst the safest in the world after inspection and remediation of the factory buildings by the Accord and Alliance.

Moreover, Bangladesh has the highest number of green factory buildings in the world, he said. Currently, 73 green garment factories are in operation in Bangladesh, with more than 300 awaiting certification by the US Green Building Council.

The quality of products from Bangladesh has improved a lot over the years due to the installation of modern machinery, high-quality design and fashion education.

“But it has not been branded accurately among the Western customers by the local garment manufacturers.”

Bangladeshi people pretty much suck when it comes to cultivating a positive image in the global front. We do development works but haphazardly and do not think about whether it will be visible to the naked eyes. Prime example being the haphazard development and growth of Dhaka city. The out of order public transport sector, neglect of the prime airport of the country. We have arranged everything to give a very bad impression to a visiting foreign nationals. Even the countries half as rich as Bangladesh has a better looking, orderly and clean capital city, good looking airport, roads and public buses. Millions of human beast of burden do not clog their roads with rundown rickshaws. It seems like we do not care about image at all.

 

[greenhawk]

Bangladeshi people pretty much suck when it comes to cultivating a positive image in the global front. We do development works but haphazardly and do not think about whether it will be visible to the naked eyes. Prime example being the haphazard development and growth of Dhaka city. The out of order public transport sector, neglect of the prime airport of the country. We have arranged everything to give a very bad impression to a visiting foreign nationals. Even the countries half as rich as Bangladesh has a better looking, orderly and clean capital city, good looking airport, roads and public buses. Millions of human beast of burden do not clog their roads with rundown rickshaws. It seems like we do not care about image at all.

Countries half as rich as us don't have anywhere near the same problems we do, and a lot of it stems down to overpopulation.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

Countries half as rich as us don't have anywhere near the same problems we do, and a lot of it stems down to overpopulation.

See this capital city of the most overpopulated country in Africa, Rwanda. This small mountainous country has population density over 500 people per sq. km. And per capita income half of Bangladesh. But their capital city is one of the cleanest in the world, very low crime rate, everything is organised. Look to the capital of Cambodia, Ethiopia, or Kenya, those look much much better than Dhaka. Although all these countries are poorer than Bangladesh on per capita income.

 

[mb444]

I do not see BD labels being ignored. BD products are everywhere in UK from Mark's and Spencer's to matalan and peacocks. Nonsense.

 

[UKBengali]

See this capital city of the most overpopulated country in Africa, Rwanda. This small mountainous country has population density over 500 people per sq. km. And per capita income half of Bangladesh. But their capital city is one of the cleanest in the world, very low crime rate, everything is organised. Look to the capital of Cambodia, Ethiopia, or Kenya, those look much much better than Dhaka. Although all these countries are poorer than Bangladesh on per capita income.

Actually population density is below 500 in Rwanda.

BD is like 2.5x as densely populated as Rwanda and that is a big difference.

 

[bluesky]

Countries half as rich as us don't have anywhere near the same problems we do, and a lot of it stems down to overpopulation.

So, essentially we ourselves created our own problems throughout the last 73 years and are still not taking any concrete and systematic measures to improve the situation. The result is the foreign buyers come to buy our cheap products but do not cherish our country and do not visit other places.

Dhaka must be made a City where people can live a civilized life if not in great prosperity. Some people say of moving the Capital to somewhere else. But, it is not possible because of constraints in the land area. Moreover, is there a guarantee that the new City will be more liveable? I do not think so when I think of our tradition of living in dirt.

Right now all other cities and towns in Bangladesh are also not liveable. But, we should start with reforming Dhaka and then move to work on other places with the good example set in Dhaka. We have to rebrand the country by improving the quality of living conditions of the population.

 

[Hyde]

Few years ago I used to see large textile industries from Asian countries but hardly any tags in UK store. Mosr of these retailers preferred Made in UK or may be another EU destinstion but nowadays reputabel stores like Next, Topman and so many others are full of clothes made in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China and Turkey. Its no longer the case of being Made in Bangladesh inferior to other nations.

 

[bluesky]

Actually population density is below 500 in Rwanda.

BD is like 2.5x as densely populated as Rwanda and that is a big difference.

But, are you not the guy who would love BD to produce another 40 million people? Will you please now stop giving excuses for not doing enough? What the country was doing when the population was, say, only 80 million? Nothing it did and there were similar excuses then like you are making now. We should not indulge in making excuse.

A nation is not respected by foreigners when it is engulfed with bad transport system, waterlogging, broken roads, footpath hawkers and garbage throughout the city.

By the way, there was a news that your great PM Hasina directed the bus owners to systematize their routes and operations. So, tell us what has been done so far. You see, this is how our politicians work. All their statements are meant for printing in the newspapers without follow up works. This is the same for jet planes and space missions.