January 2025

Our Cover Story of AOB January issue hits the right spot by presenting the pivotal stories that grabbed headlines in 2024 and played a key role in defining the fashion and retail landscape. We have also included the 7 significant trends that are set to rule the fashion, retail and manufacturing industries going ahead in 2025. Let’s dive into the future that is soon approaching!

Our ‘Retail Pulse BD’ section unravels the local fast fashion brands which are giving tough competition to global giants like Zara, H&M and Levi’s by dropping in new collections very fast, changing the price strategy and also emphasising on local styles and building strong customer connections.

Under the ‘Sustainability’ segment, we have discussed about the growing global shift from voluntary to mandatory EGS legislations which make sustainability reporting by companies a ‘must-have’ criterion. Bangladesh, which has around 100 top RMG exporters and more than 225 green LEED-certified factories, needs to be more proactive on this front as currently, only a handful of companies in the country publish their own annual sustainability reports.

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with M.Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh where he shares insights into his organisation’s efforts to support the industry and address its key challenges. The ‘Manufacturing’ column provides an in-depth coverage on China’s Bettex Group which started its Bangladesh’s operations in 2019 and now produces 9 million pieces annually, with a long-term, massive expansion plan in place.

Stay tuned for our other regular articles like Fashion Business, Trends in Focus, Thought Leadership, Buying and Sourcing and so on.