Globalization has become a phenomenon in the apparel industry throughout the last few decades. Outsourcing has gradually taken a substantial edge over local in terms of manufacturing. During this rapid industrialization, Bangladesh has emerged as a key player in the overall global sourcing industry. However, as the sector witnessed significant growth, with 84% of Bangladesh’s total exports in the year 2020 accounting for ready-made garments (RMG), challenges soon started to emerge revolving around the sourcing business.
To address these concerns, Nimbus Apparel Sourcing Solution Bangladesh has come up with a complete sourcing solution that ensures efficient and high-quality production. In this blog, we will explore how Nimbus Apparel Sourcing Solution Bangladesh source apparel from Bangladesh and solves the sourcing puzzle for apparel retailers, from both local and international markets, by providing a reliable and sustainable sourcing solution.
The Sourcing Puzzle – what is it and what does it include?
What is sourcing in apparel production?
Sourcing in apparel production refers to the process of finding and selecting the materials and services needed to create a finished garment or product. This process includes sourcing fabrics, trims, accessories, and manufacturing services. Sourcing is a critical aspect of apparel production, as it impacts the overall quality, cost, and sustainability of the finished product. Successful sourcing solution requires both suppliers and manufacturers to be collaborative in planning and research.
What does a complete Sourcing Solution include?
For apparel retailers outsourcing from parts across the globe, finding a comprehensive sourcing solution has always been a puzzle. Sourcing is a complicated process largely dependent on the product and demand. Despite this complexity, a complete apparel-sourcing solution can be defined by several key steps:
- Research and Development: This involves creating a product design and developing a prototype that meets the client requirements.
- Material sourcing: This step involves finding and acquiring appropriate materials required for the product, based on factors like quality, cost, and sustainability.
- Manufacturer or Infrastructure selection: In this step, potential suppliers are identified and selected based on their manufacturing capabilities, experience, and reputation.
- Production: This involves close collaboration with the suppliers or manufacturers to ensure timely and cost-efficient production.
- Quality control: Quality control is ensured throughout the entire production phase to ensure the finished product is produced efficiently and meets the desired quality standards.
- Logistics and Shipping: Once the product is ready, it is then packaged, shipped, and delivered to the doorsteps of the client.
Sourcing in Bangladesh: Decades of History and Growth
Apparel sourcing in Bangladesh can trace back its origins to the early 1970s when a small number of entrepreneurs began to export simple clothing items to international markets. In the early years, low-cost and low-quality materials and infrastructure were primarily sourced to produce similar-quality products. However, as the industry grew, the quality of the products also improved tremendously.
The RMG industry in Bangladesh started transforming the global fashion scene along with experiencing significant growth during the 1980s and 1990s. This period marked a turning point for apparel sourcing as the industry started to put more focus on R&D and Quality Control and strengthen their logistics and shipping. Bangladesh’s relatively low labor costs and abundance of skilled labor further made it an attractive destination for sourcing to international buyers.
Sourcing in Bangladesh: Challenges and Puzzles
It is not possible to neglect the drawbacks of arranging sourcing activities in Bangladesh. Some of the challenges often faced during procurement are outlined below:
Lack of Skilled Workforce:
Although the country has a huge workforce with extremely low labor costs, most of the workforce is not capable of performing advanced production techniques. This becomes a great issue when it comes to manufacturing products and maintaining quality standards. For this reason, Bangladesh is facing a tough time as its competitors are getting ahead easily by overcoming this obstacle.
Shortage of Raw Material :
Marketers can get hold of required raw materials very easily in this market. And this is because Bangladesh is highly dependent on imported raw materials. Thus, raw material unavailability remains as one of the main challenges faced by local fabric mills.
Infrastructural Limitations:
The majority of the local fabric mills in Bangladesh have limited production and distribution capacities. The transportation scenario comes with its own set of technicalities and challenges. Due to this inadequate infrastructure and transportation issues, finished products reach the marketers after a long delay. This works as a bane for the marketers when consumer demands are higher than normal.
Economic and Political Instability:
Unstable economic and political situation is another reason behind ineffective sourcing in Bangladesh. Maximum sourcing authorities state that sourcing is reduced significantly in case of political instability despite favorable trade policies on behalf of the government
Failure to Meet Compliance
Compliance issues are a common problem in Bangladesh, affecting not just the apparel sourcing industry. In most cases, local fabric mills are running with large volume of orders more than its capacity and thus are unable to perform upto satisfaction. Norms have slightly developed over the last decades with little or no difference on part of the suppliers in their level of compliance.
How Nimbus Apparel Sourcing provides the Complete Apparel Sourcing Solution?
Here, at Nimbus Apparel Sourcing, you will get the complete apparel sourcing solution after addressing the above mentioned challenges. From the design-development phase to the on-time delivery of your products, we ensure smooth completion of the entire process. We are always updated in terms of trends and fashion and we make sure we understand your requirement fully before committing to produce the desired products.
Here is a walkthrough of how we guide our consumers or buyers through the entire sourcing puzzle:
- First we put your requirements as our priority. We will assess your query and will always find you meaningful ways to be cost effiecient – in product cost, operation cost, freight and tariff cost, etc.
- We always make an informed decision in choosing our manufacturing partners or suppliers. We assess the factories in terms of their product range and quality, production capacity, infrastructural facilities, financial capability, technology orientation, workforce skill and working conditions, managerial efficiency, and overall quality policies. The most qualified vendor is then approved by a combined decision after our initial assessment is completed.
- After the manufacturing partners and suppliers are selected, we start to research and develop samples for our end products to suit the season’s colors, fabric and style based on our buyer’s requirements. Any number of salesman samples can be made as per the buyer’s requirements and they are couriered directly to the buyers. By offering this crucial service, we assist our buyer’s marketing efforts, in their own country, by giving them an edge over others.
- In the next step, we closely monitor our orders throughout from sampling to shipment. Status on sampling, production, and shipment are transmitted to the buyers regularly. We maintain a proactive approach toward the identification of the problem areas so that corrective measures can be taken immediately. This is how we always ensure and guarantee on-time deliveries.
Our quality representatives are there 24/7 at the facility to monitor, assure quality and do random inspections. Laboratories are an extremely valuable component of our services as we make sure the products go through the appropriate lab tests. The last measure in this phase is the pre-shipment final inspection and getting the goods ready for shipment.
- After the pre-shipment testing is done, we then move on to quantity assortment. We establish the proper packaging and shipping mode for on-time smoothest delivery. Further, an identification of the goods is made to ensure that only the inspected goods are being stuffed without getting mixed up with the un-inspected goods, during the loading. Shipping documents are checked as per the buyer’s instruction and copies of the documents are also sent to the buyers, well in advance of the shipment, to avoid any discrepancies.
- Our after-sales services ensure ultimate customer success. We make sure to follow up with our customers with feedback, market survey, and statistics. We ensure our buyers always get to know about new industry developments, product gradations, and new supply base in the Bangladesh market.
Additional Benefits by Nimbus Apparel Sourcing
We also assist buyer visits throughout the entire process of our apparel sourcing solution. We organize and accompany them on their buying visits, factory visits, and inspection visits. We also help them with their itinerary and accommodation arrangements during their visits if needed. We orient the buyers on the dos and do nots of the business practices in Bangladesh to make their visit effective and fruitful.
Start Hassle-Free Sourcing Now!
When it comes to apparel sourcing, Bangladesh is the most preferred destination among international marketers. With all the benefits of sourcing from Bangladesh, the process is not without its challenges. Thus, it is essential to have a reliable partner who can help navigate through these challenges. This is where Nimbus Apparel Sourcing comes in!
Nimbus offers you the most efficient and complete sourcing solution in Bangladesh. We have an extensive Fabric & Garment manufacturer portfolio and sourcing network which allows us to provide you with an extensive range of Complete Apparel Sourcing Solutions. So, if you are looking for a trustworthy sourcing partner, contact us and get started with seamless and effortless apparel sourcing today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is sourcing in the apparel production process?
Sourcing in apparel production is the process of finding and acquiring materials and services needed to produce clothing. This includes finding fabric, trims, and accessories along with managing manufacturing services.
Why is sourcing important in the fashion industry?
Sourcing determines the quality of materials and services along with their cost. This impacts a company’s reputation for ethical and sustainable practices.
Which apparel sourcing factors matter the most?
The most important factors for apparel sourcing are cost, quality, and sustainability. Companies must ensure these three factors meet their needs and align with their values.
What makes Bangladesh a preferred apparel-sourcing destination?
Low labor costs, a large workforce, and an established infrastructure for RMG manufacturing are some of the factors that make Bangladesh a preferred apparel-sourcing destination.
What factors do you need to keep in mind while sourcing fabrics that change your sourcing probability over time?
Factors that can impact your fabric sourcing success over time include
- Market trends
- Consumer preferences
- Raw material availability
- Material and services pricing
- Unstable exchange rate
- Political instability
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