The AW23 collection of London-based fashion brand Wax London launched with a new campaign titled ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ Focusing on winter wear garments, the collection is characterised by a rich color palette and introduces 100 designs in winter shades of browns, greens, blues, and burgundy.

A few of the collection’s signature pieces include the Wax Whiting Overshirt, the sell-out Chester Coat, the Navarino trench coat, and three new coat silhouettes in various colors. The collection also offers a variety of waist-length jackets, including the new Otto Overshirt and the return of the Iggy Jacket in Jacquard and Wool for colder days.

The outerwear promotes layering in signature pieces like the Whiting Overshirts, Greenland jacket, Sasso car coat, Santoni Coat, Chester Coat, and the reissued Navarino Mac coat.

The "Driving Home for Christmas" campaign for this collection depicts the adventures of three best friends exploring the city of London day and night. According to the brand, the campaign captures the ethos of London. 

Inspired by autumnal weekend getaways away from the city, the Wax London AW23 collection offers stylish, sustainable, and versatile garments. It blends classic silhouettes with new fabrics to create a comfortable and luxurious collection for the winter.

For the first time ever, Bangladesh’s knitwear garment exports to the EU overtook China’s during the January-September 2023 period. The surge was observed both in terms of value and volume of exports. 

Figures from Eurostat show, Bangladesh’s knitwear garment exports to the EU surged to $9 billion during the nine-month period as against $8.96 billion exports by China. 

Bangladesh achieved this feat by exporting higher value-added garment items, particularly activewear, says Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA. 

However, on a Y-o-Y basis, Bangladesh’s knitwear exports to the EU declined by 20.94 per cent as demand slackened and inflation rates in the EU rose 

Knitwear sector in the EU experienced a 17.71 per cent decline in imports amounting to €31.94 billion during the January-September period compared to the previous year, Eurostat data shows.

Sluggish demand for apparel products led to a 17.66 per cent Y-o-Y decline in apparel imports by the region, totaling €13.69 billion.

The industry should focus on non-cotton-based athleisure items for exports in future, advises Hassan. It should also remain committed to responsible and sustainable manufacturing, setting a global example, he adds.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Vice President, BKMEA, attributes Bangladesh's rise a leading exporter to China's shift away from low-end products and Bangladesh's successful establishment of strong backward linkages.

The country continues to outperform its competitors, despite a 23.33 per cent Y-o-Y decline to $5.78 billion in apparel exports to the United States, adds Hassan. 

He attributes the recent slowdown to a gloomy global economic outlook, predicting a challenging year for the apparel trade in 2023.

PDS Ltd’s subsidiary, Norlanka Manufacturing, aims to consolidate its position in the kidswear market by acquiring a 26 per cent stake in Sri Lanka-based children's wear manufacturer Nobleswear Pvt Ltd. The business also aims to expand its production facilities.

Besides subscribing to the company’s shares, Norlanka’s investment in Nobleswear involves making an initial investment in the company. Norlanka also aims to acquire an additional 24 per cent stake in Nobleswear at the same valuation. 

Sanjay Jain, CEO, PDS Ltd says, the company aims to explore multiple sourcing opportunities by optimising this newly acquired manufacturing asset. It also aims to expand its sourcing business to over Rs 10,000 crore on the basis of its Rs 700 crore manufacturing operations. This will help enhance the company’s efficiency besides driving sustained growth.

Nobleswear’s bottom line profit of around 8 per cent helped boost its top line revenues to Rs 138 crore in FY’2023. The business’ top-line more than doubled over the past three years.  

Bangladesh’s RMG exports to traditional markets such as the US, EU and Germany declined in the first five months of FY’23. 

Data from the Export Promotion Bureau's (EPB) compiled by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) indicates, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to traditional markets from July-November’24 increased marginally by 2.75 per cent to $18.83 billion from $18.33 billion in the same period of FY23.

Bangladesh RMG exports to the United States during his period declined by 5.76 per cent to $3.27 billion, compared to $3.47 billion of the same period in FY23.

Exports to Germany declined by 15.10 per cent to $2.30 billion from $2.71 billion recorded in July-November period of FY23. 

In the July-October period of FY24, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the UK recorded a moderate Y-o-Y growth of 14.61 per cent or $2.25 billion from last year’s $1.96 billion.  EPB data stated. 

Apparel exports to the overall EU market, during the July-November period of FY24, declined by 0.18 per cent to $9.05 billion, down from $9.07 billion in the same period of last fiscal. 

Japan, Australia, Russia, India, China, South Korea, UAE, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico and some other countries are non-traditional export markets for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to these non-traditional markets grew by 14.12 per cent Y-o-Y to $3.64 billion from $3.19 billion in the last FY.

Mohiuddin Rubel, Director, BGMEA, says, Bangladesh’s exports to non-traditional markets, especially Australia and Japan, are growing and providing support given the current situation. 

Manufacturers are focusing on these markets to offer diversified products that help maintain consistency despite the current global situation.