In a defining moment for the regional apparel landscape, Youngone Corporation has crossed the $1 billion export milestone from Bangladesh, becoming the first foreign industrial entity to achieve this feat. This breakthrough marks a strategic pivot from high-volume basic garments toward high-margin technical textiles and Man-Made Fiber (MMF) products. While traditional exports are facing margin pressures, Youngone’s focus on complex outerwear and functional gear - fetching an average unit price of $23, significantly higher than the industry average - has fortified its market position. The group's vertical integration strategy, particularly its massive investment in polyester fabric manufacturing at the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ), provides a blueprint for the ‘backward linkage’ model required for Bangladesh’s post-LDC graduation.
Institutionalizing growth through skill and solar innovation
The corporation’s roadmap extends beyond manufacturing to structural sector upgrading. Kihak Sung, Chairman recently announced a plan to establish a dedicated textile and fashion college in Chattogram, aimed at bridging the technical skill gap as the industry transitions to automation. Concurrently, the group is finalizing a 40 MW rooftop solar project, the largest of its kind globally, to decarbonize its industrial footprint. These initiatives address the dual challenges of rising energy costs and Western ‘masstige’ brands' stringent ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mandates. By aligning large-scale industrial infrastructure with human capital development, Youngone is transforming Bangladesh from a low-cost assembly point into a sophisticated, world-class textile hub capable of sustaining billion-dollar annual growth.
Founded in 1974 by Kihak Sung, Youngone is a premier global manufacturer of outdoor apparel and footwear. Employing 70,000 workers in Bangladesh, it operates the flagship Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ). With annual global revenues of $2.5 billion, the group is aggressively expanding into synthetic fibers and high-tech sportswear to lead the world’s performance-driven fashion markets.
