Fashion Industry Needs Attention More

Entrepreneurs are naturally faced with challenges due to the increase in wages of workers, raw materials, cloths and electricity. A huge amount of RMG has been imported in the past even with the high duty tax. Now, people concerned believe the situation will worsen badly due to the slash in duty tax. Because, local entrepreneurs will be discouraged if the market is flooded by imported RMG items. So, the decision needs to be reconsidered to protect the local industry.

This cannot be denied that the entrepreneurs involved in the local fashion industry work throughout the year with losing population of various professions. There are also many craft artists included in this process. Even village women are finding employment in this industry. The number of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the chain supply is also quite significant.

Overall, employment in the local fashion industry is relatively high compared to many other industries. In this context, if import of garments is encouraged marginal weavers, craft artists or people involved in needlework will gradually lose their work.

So, in the interest of the country the duty tax on import of RMG goods needs to be increased not reduced. That is also the demand of the stakeholders of this industry. If that is followed or necessary initiatives are taken, it will ensure the protection of indigenous industries as well as the marginalized population involved there. For now, the truth we have to face at the end of the day is that the lack of coordination and solid role of all stakeholders in the fashion industry is pushing it towards a threatening condition And, they are the ones being endangered. The only way out of this situation is to organize and strengthen relationships with the government for earning due status for this industry.

What's unfortunate is that, more than a month has passed since the interim government assumed office However, no organization from the local fashion industry has contacted the government's policy-making quarters to discuss their demands or take any new initiatives to earn industrial status for this sector yet.

Along with the brands those founded the local fashion industry in Bangladesh and those who helped that make it this far, many designer labels are also facing generation-crisis right now. Is that what's causing them to waver?

The local fashion industry of Bangladesh was established even before the RMG industry here. It was launched with the establishment of 'Nipun' back in 1973. But even in all these years, the local fashion industry neither had any proper direction nor a solid foundation. But, now is the perfect time to set this industry on a proper foundation.

Because this mass uprising has awakened patriotism and an interest has been created towards local merchandise. Plus, initiatives like 'Amader Ponne Amader Uthshob' or 'Buylocal' are gaining importance. So, this is the right time to utilise this trend. Otherwise this occasion will just go in vain. Then there will be nothing to do but wait for the next break. By that time, the industry will fall quite far behind.

Designers 'Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB)' and 'Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (FEAB)' can take the lead in this regard. Designers and brands inside and outside of different associations can join them.