For 2017-18 Bangladesh’s export earnings from lingerie items — innerwear and nightwear — were up 7.84 per cent compared to previous fiscal. Manufacturers are now making fresh investments in this segment as they try to grab a bigger share of the global market. The prospect of orders coming in a large number following a rise in the cost of manufacturing apparel in China has made attracted local investors. To add more value added products to the export list, dozens of garment factories have started manufacturing lingerie in the last few years, contributing to the rise in export volumes.

As entrepreneurs have already demonstrated their expertise in this segment in the last one decade, buyers are now showing interest in sourcing such items from Bangladesh. Besides, buyers who have already been sourcing other garment items now want Bangladesh, well known as a garment-producing country ensuring quality and lead times, to produce lingerie.

Lingerie is called engineering industrial garments since it is a complicated and technical product that needs a sophisticated design with the right fabric and tailoring to yield a good and satisfactory fit. Exporters have set their sights on this value-added product to maximise their earnings amid a growing demand for it.