Global retailers will focus on safety standards and compliance in Bangladesh's garment sector at the sourcing trend meet to be held in Hong Kong in mid-March. SourceTrends is an annual event for apparel and footwear brands, manufacturers, retailers, agents and suppliers. This year, Bangladesh is on the radar due to the Tazreen Fashions fire and the Rana Plaza building collapse.

Every year, retailers, brands and manufacturers from all over the world attend the meeting to discuss updates on safety standards, compliance and future plans in the apparel and footwear sectors. A full-day event is planned with five panel discussions that address product testing regulations, US customs and supply chain traceability.

Each panel will comprise speakers from retail or brand organisations, product testing or audit or inspection companies, along with leaders from international trade associations from the textile, apparel and footwear industry. There will be a discussion of Alliance, a North American garment factory inspection agency, and Accord, another platform of 190 retailers and brands for factory inspection.

The discussion will shed light on how brands and retailers can use the experiences of both Accord and Alliance on factory inspection globally. American Apparel and Footwear Association, American Chamber of Commerce, Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, SGS, Oeko-Tex, Business Social Compliance Initiative, Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production are organising the meeting.