Slave labor is a major problem in Brazil’s textile industry. Some 1,200 workers were rescued from slave-like conditions this year. Businesses are facing growing consumer pressure to ensure their global supply chains are environmentally-friendly, slavery-free and pay their workers fair wages. But information about brands’ supply chains is often hidden on websites or hosted on external websites that are difficult to find.
Brazil is Latin America’s biggest economy. The country has the world’s fourth largest garment production industry, with 1.5 million direct employees, mostly women. The textile industry is fragmented and informal, with thousands of immigrant subcontractors from Bolivia and Paraguay sewing clothes in sweatshops for well-known national retailers.
Brazil’s apparel market is expanding at a substantial CAGR. Rising disposable income of people and growing consciousness for international fashion trends are the key factors contributing to the growth of the market. Brazil is one of the largest exporters of apparel and fashionable goods. Arab countries are some of the largest importers of apparels and textiles from Brazil. The United Arab Emirates accounts for the highest imports from Brazil, followed by Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. With a recovering economy, the apparel industry is expected to rebound over the coming years.