Makers of garment accessories in Bangladesh are gearing up to meet the demand of apparel sector. They are emphasising more on producing high-quality accessory items to establish the sector as an individual industry rather than a backward integration of the readymade garment industry.

About 100 new factories have started operations this year. Currently, around 1,700 factories are producing accessory items in the country. Bangladesh produces and exports accessories like woven labels, leather badges, stone and metal motifs, rubber patches, gum tapes, satin and cotton ribbon hangers, price tags, and buttons and zippers. In all, accessory makers and packagers supply 34 types of products.

The sector contributes 15 to 20 per cent of the net export earnings of the readymade garment sector. Bangladesh also exports accessories to the Middle East, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Accessory items also meet the demand of the country’s agro-business and plastic sectors.

The industry wants cash incentives on exports. Since banks charge double-digit interest rates on loans from businesses, this increases the cost of doing business. China is the biggest player in manufacturing garment accessory items in the world. Bangladesh holds the second position. The market for garment accessories in Asia alone is worth $24 billion.