As a part of its strategy to explore new sourcing destinations while reducing local garment production in Russia, Gloria Jeans plans to increase sourcing from Bangladesh by 30 per cent in 2025. Moyeen Ahmed, Regional General Manager-Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, highlights, the company already significantly boosted sourcing from Bangladesh last year and intends to expand this further in 2025.
The move follows Gloria Jeans’ exit from the Uzbekistan market and plans to shut down several production units in Russia. The company aims to shift a part of its production to Bangladesh, alongside China and Vietnam. However, high duties on Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Russia remain a challenge, making its products less price-competitive compared to Vietnam.
Despite these obstacles, Gloria Jeans has experienced steady growth in Bangladesh over the past three years. Moyeen emphasizes on the importance of government support to reduce these high duties. Negotiations to lower duties are yet to succeed, but if Bangladesh can secure duty exemptions, it could become Russia’s largest apparel supplier, unlocking vast export opportunities.
A significant factor behind the company’s success in Bangladesh is strategic advancements in research and development (R&D). Local suppliers have supported Gloria Jeans by providing high-quality fabric, enabling the brand to use over 90 per cent locally sourced materials for denim production. This has helped Gloria Jeans recover and expand its operations in Bangladesh, which previously exported large volumes of shirts and chinos to Russia.
For 2025, Gloria Jeans aims for an annual turnover of $70 million, with denim playing a key role. Bangladesh’s denim suppliers currently account for about one-third of Russia’s denim imports, with leading exporters like ABA Group and Square Group. The company also sources jersey knitwear, sweaters, and outerwear from Bangladesh.
However, high duties—such as 30 per cent on denim and 35 per cent on jackets—pose a major barrier. Vietnam benefits from duty-free access to Russia, giving it a competitive edge. If Bangladesh can resolve these issues, it could become a leading supplier to Russia, driving significant growth for both Gloria Jeans and the country’s garment industry.
