European retailers are confident Bangladesh's apparel sector will continue to thrive and the country will be able to supply garments at competitive prices. They base their optimism on the fact that buyers have good links with Bangladesh and a good relationship with factory owners. Once garment owners become more responsible, they will not require foreign firms to coach them on compliance issues for sustainability.

The country’s garment sector has been going through major reforms since the Rana Plaza building collapse in April last year. Bangladesh needs responsible entrepreneurs as the garment industry is already a mature. Retailers have been working with factory owners, managers and workers to improve their compliance with labor laws, workers' rights, fire safety, management styles, wages and working hours and environmental issues. There have been training programs on fire safety.

These efforts seem to be paying off. Industrial relations have improved a lot in Bangladesh. The incidents of unrest in the sector have declined a lot over the years. These foreign retailers are willing to consider a price hike, an issue that’s bothering factory owners a lot, but only if they are certain the extra amount will go to workers.