April 2025

For Cover Story of April issue, we are back with our Buying Guide on menswear and womenswear for Fall/Winter 2025-26. For menswear this season, double-breasted blazers and oversized tailoring continue to cast an impact while high-waisted trousers and subtly integrated pleats nod to vintage sophistication with a contemporary twist. In womenswear, high necklines and elongated dresses and midi skirt lengths signal a departure from the body-conscious styling that has prevailed in recent seasons, with a renewed emphasis on volume across blouses, pants and skirts. Also don’t miss our exclusive interview with Mehruz Munir, Creative Director and Founder of ZURHEM and his expert perspective on the shifts, upcoming trends and design evolutions set to influence Fall/Winter 2025 season.

AKM Saifur Rahman Farhad, VP-BGBA and CEO-Wikitex-BD, briefs on the sourcing opportunities and challenges facing Bangladesh’s RMG industry after last year’s political transition, only under our Buying and Sourcing column.

This edition also includes two engaging Thought Leadership stories helmed by industry stalwarts such as Akib Rahman, Director of Hams Group and Azeezur Rahman Khan, Country Development Representative, The Woolmark Company-Bangladesh and GM, Thianis Apparels Ltd. These experts will be discussing about topics in the spotlight such as the learnings that Bangladesh RMG industry should take from its close competitor Vietnam and the ongoing gap between ambition and investment when it comes to sustainability regulations.

Our AO Global Brand To Watch this time is the popular Canadian brand Lululemon which collaborates with 49 vendors worldwide, with 8 per cent of its products manufactured in Bangladesh. This presents a significant opportunity for the country to expand its role in the supply chain.