Top international brands are sourcing sportswear from Bangladesh. This development is being seen as a new opportunity for the country’s readymade garment sector. Bangladesh has become the world’s second largest sportswear exporter after China.

The industry has more than 1,700 factories concentrated around the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong. Around 25 per cent of knit garments like sportswear go to traditional and non-traditional markets, including the US and EU countries. Nike, Puma, Adidas are among the big brands already engaged in outsourcing sportswear from Bangladesh. They feel manufacturers produce international quality sportswear with a competitive price range. Many leading international buyers, including renowned brands, are shifting orders to Bangladesh from Pakistan, Turkey, and China.

In recent times, more than 90 per cent sportswear products are being made from local fabrics, as the country is going to attain self-sufficiency in knitwear fabrics. There are more than 261 composite factories in the knitwear industry. There are 383 yarn manufacturing industries in the country whereas fabric manufacturing units are 743. The industry has backward linkages like knitting, dyeing and spinning.

The country's big knitwear manufacturers are introducing sportswear units as top international business partners have shown keen interest in sourcing these products.