❖ Introduction to sweater industry of Bangladesh

A sweater is a warm piece of clothing, typically with long sleeves, made of

wool or other material and worn on the upper part of the body. It can be worn
by both men and women. The sweater also known as fully fashioned knitwear
is a leading sub-sector of readymade garments.

The sweater production and export of Bangladesh RMG sector is the

encouraging sub-sector. The sweater has a great contribution in the field of
nearly 12% to the total RMG exports of $30.61 billion in FY17-18 whereas it was
$3.37 billion in the fiscal year 2016 -2017, a rise of 9.22% within a year. Sweater
manufacturers upgrade their machinery from manual to automatic, for this
reason, the productivity of workers and overall factory production increases.
Due to global climate change, the sweater becomes trendy with fashionable
accessories. People from this industry hope that by 2021 this sector’s annual
worth will be $8 billion.

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Exporting sweaters from Bangladesh has been increasing rapidly with
competitive pricing in the Western countries playing an outstanding role. The
country exported sweaters worth US$ 3.37 billion in the fiscal year 2016-17, up
by 5.64 percent year on year. Notably, some of the leading global brands
including Walmart, Marks & Spencer (M&S), GAP, Tesco, H&M, JCPenney, and
Zara are the major buyers of Bangladeshi sweater products. The major
export-oriented items of sweaters from Bangladesh are Turtle neck sweaters,
jackets, pullovers, cardigans, vests, hoodies, coats, overcoats, etc. are
exported both in men’s, women’s, and kids’ wearing. from Bangladesh have
been
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❖ History of sweater industry of Bangladesh
History of the sweater Industry of Bangladesh DSSL is one of the flagship companies of
Bangladesh’s DRAGON GROUP which is the Pioneer of the Bangladesh Sweater Industry.
The group played a pioneering role in the sweater industry of Bangladesh by starting the
first sweater project in Bangladesh in the early 80s with technical collaboration from
Hong Kong and China. Since then the group has implanted the seeds for the
development of the sweater industry in Bangladesh. Today Bangladesh exports over 4
Billion US Dollars of sweaters and the country employs nearly a million people in the
sweater industry.

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❖ Major Sweater Companies of Bangladesh
There are almost 700 sweater factories in Bangladesh. Some of the major players in
sweater manufacturing in Bangladesh, all of which expanded their capacity at least
once in recent times are listed below:

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❖ Listing of export-oriented sweater items

Export-oriented sweater items include a wide range of knitted garments,

such as cardigans, pullovers, hoodies, jackets, vests, and coats, suitable for
both men, women, and children. Popular styles include turtle neck sweaters,
V-neck sweaters, high-neck long sleeve sweaters, and mock-neck
sweaters. Additionally, items like jackets, hoodies, coats, and overcoats are
also exported.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Men's Export-Oriented Sweater Items:

Turtle neck sweater, V-neck sweater, Cardigan, Pullover, Hoodie, Jackets,
Coat, Overcoat, Vest, and Polo Sweater.

Women's Exported Items:

Cardigan, Pullover, High neck long sleeve sweater, Hoodie, Jacket, Over Coat,
Vest, Mock neck Sweater

Other Exported Sweater Items:

Hooded Sweaters (Men's/Ladies), Jackets, coats, and overcoats, Vests

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❖ Men’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Men’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Men’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Women’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Women’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Women’s export-oriented sweater items

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❖ Kid’s oriented sweater items

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❖ Sweater Manufacturing machine

Sweater manufacturing primarily relies on weft knitting machines, which can be flat-
bed or circular. Flat-bed machines, commonly used for shaping panels and creating
intricate designs, allow for needle manipulation techniques like transfer stitches and
bed racking. Circular machines, on the other hand, offer high production rates for cut-
and-sew production. V-bed machines, which feature two diagonally aligned needle
beds, can produce whole garments without cut and sew.

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Examples of Sweater Knitting Machines:
TS-3D Shoes Upper Knitting Machine: Used for producing shoe uppers.
TSE Economic Serial Flat Knitting Machine: A cost-effective option for sweater
production.
TAF Intelligent Feeders Serial Knitting Machine: Features intelligent feeders for efficient
yarn handling.
280T Tandem Series Knitting Machine: Designed for high-speed and high-volume
production.
TX High Efficiency Flat Knitting Machine: Offers high production output with good
quality.

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❖ Sweater item consumption & costing procedure
Sweater item consumption and costing involves calculating the total cost of
materials, labor, and overhead to produce a sweater. This includes
determining yarn consumption, considering wastage, and factoring in other
expenses like accessories, cutting and making (CM) charges, and overheads.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Yarn Consumption: Garment Weight: Weigh a sample sweater to

determine its weight in pounds per dozen (lbs/doz).
Wastage: Add a percentage for yarn wastage (e.g., 10%) to account for errors
during production. Yarn Price: Multiply the total yarn weight (garment weight
plus wastage) by the price per pound.

2. Other Costs: Accessories: Include the cost of any buttons, zippers, or other
trims. Cutting and Making (CM): This includes the labor costs for cutting,
sewing, and finishing the sweater. Overheads: Factor in overhead costs like
rent, utilities, and other operational expenses.

3. Costing Formula: **(Yarn Cost (lbs/doz) + Wastage)

Yarn Price/lbs + Accessories Cost/doz + CM/doz + Overheads/doz = Total
Cost/doz*

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4. Example:
Sweater: 12 lbs/doz, 10% wastage, $2.50/lbs yarn, $4.00 accessories, $36 CM,
$10 overheads
Total Cost: (12 * 1.10) * $2.50 + $4.00 + $36 + $10 = $33.00 + $4.00 + $36 + $10 =
$83.00/doz
Cost per piece: $83.00 / 12 = $6.92/pc

5. Factors Affecting Costing:

Gauge: Finer gauges (e.g., 3 GG) require more yarn and may have higher
labor costs.
Design: Complex designs like cables or diamonds can increase labor and CM
costs.
Season: Cost margins may vary depending on the season (e.g., summer vs.
winter).

6. Costing Sheets:
Costing sheets: are used to systematically record all costs associated with a
sweater, including material, labor, and overhead.
These sheets help in accurately determining the total cost of production and
pricing the sweater appropriately.

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❖ Problems and prospects of sweater industry in Bangladesh

The sweater industry in Bangladesh faces challenges like rising production

costs, reliance on imported raw materials, and competition from established
players. However, the industry also has significant prospects, including strong
demand, growth potential, and a large, skilled workforce.
Challenges:
Rising Production Costs:
Increasing wages, energy costs, and dependency on imported materials like
yarn are squeezing profit margins.
Raw Material Dependency:
Bangladesh relies heavily on imported yarns, especially fancy yarns, making
it vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.
Technological Deficiency:
Many factories still use outdated machinery, hindering efficiency and product
quality.
Sustainability and Compliance:
Meeting international standards for waste management, carbon neutrality,
and ethical labor practices is challenging.

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Competition:
Established players like China, Vietnam, and Turkey offer more advanced
manufacturing and better supply chain integration, posing a competitive
threat.
Skilled Manpower Shortage:
The industry faces a shortage of trained personnel in sweater knitting, design,
and innovation.
Seasonal Demand:
Sweaters are primarily seasonal, creating peaks and troughs in production
and demand.
Lack of Diversification:
The industry is focused on basic sweater designs, lacking diversification into
premium products.
Infrastructure Bottlenecks:
Poor logistics and transportation can lead to delays, increasing costs and
reducing competitiveness.

Prospects:
Strong Demand:
Sweaters remain a popular apparel item in winter-prone countries, and the industry
is experiencing growth in both export and domestic markets.

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Large Workforce:
Bangladesh boasts a large and relatively inexpensive workforce, a key
advantage for mass production.
Government Support:
The government provides various incentives and support to the RMG sector,
including financial assistance and infrastructure development.
Growth Potential:
Bangladesh's sweater industry has the potential to become a major global
hub for sweater manufacturing, especially with investments in technology
and diversification.
Emerging Markets:
Diversifying export markets beyond traditional regions can mitigate risks and
capitalize on new opportunities.
Industrial Revolution:
The adoption of automated machinery is increasing efficiency and improving
product quality.
Increased Awareness:
Growing awareness of sustainable practices and ethical sourcing may lead
to increased demand for eco-friendly and ethically produced sweaters.

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❖ Conclusion

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❖ References

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