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Global brands such as GAP, Walmart, and Decathlon are already diverting orders to Indian manufacturers or suppliers instead of their Bangladeshi counterparts.
Things are likely to change as many of global garment brands are now seeking to ‘Make in India’ for the world. (Representational Image: PTI)
On August 5, 2024, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure marked the beginning of a gradual exodus of Bangladesh’s pride — the global textile giant status. In 2023, Bangladesh’s manufacturing value added was approximately $97.73 billion, ranking it 24th worldwide according to World Bank data. Often, one would pick a piece of cloth from GAP, or Asics in India that read ‘Made in Bangladesh.’ However, things are likely to change as many of these global brands are now seeking to ‘Make in India’ for the world.
THE EXODUS OF BRANDS?
Raymond, a respected name in the textile industry, announced a significant shift in September. Its CMD, Gautam Singhania, asserted, “We sell fabrics to Bangladesh; all that business is coming back here after the crisis. Once the business shifts here, it won’t go back.”
The political instability following Hasina’s exit forced the company to make this decision, leading to a recent Rs 200 crore investment. Raymond supplies to international brands like Hugo Boss, Macy’s, and CK.
Global brands such as GAP, Walmart, and Decathlon are already diverting orders to Indian manufacturers or suppliers instead of their Bangladeshi counterparts as was the norm. The Tirupur cluster received numerous enquiries early this year from brands like Duns and JCPenney, apart from the aforementioned ones. However, not all enquiries converted into orders.
The Japanese sportswear brand, ASICS, is increasing local production in India from 30 per cent to 40 per cent, responding to import restrictions and aiming for more domestic manufacturing.
MODI GOVT USING THE MOMENTUM
India’s share of global trade in textiles and apparel stands at 3.9 per cent. Ready Made Garments (RMG) with exports of $8,733 million USD have the largest share (41 per cent) in total exports ($21,358 million USD) during the period of April-October of the financial year 2024-25, according to the Union Textile Ministry in January. During this period, overall textile exports saw a growth of 7 per cent. Now, nearly a year later, India expects this growth to have gained momentum.
The Modi government projects that textile exports will reach USD 65 billion by FY 2025-26 and that the overall textile & apparel market will grow to USD 350 billion by 2030, up from about USD 165 billion in 2022.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme continues to attract investments. For instance, 64 applications with proposed investments totalling Rs 19,798 crore and projected turnovers of Rs 1,93,926 crore have been approved. Additionally, the Modi government has expanded PLI to maintain this momentum.
Budget allocations for the textile sector have been increasing – both for schemes in traditional textiles and especially technical textiles, handloom, among other categories.
The biggest impetus for Indian and global brands to look towards India again came with a government notification that significantly impacted Bangladesh’s overall exports, particularly the textile sector. In May, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade ordered that specified commodities from Bangladesh would be prevented from entering India through the land ports of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. This affected ready-made garments from Bangladesh, which are now only allowed to enter India through the ports of Kolkata and Mumbai, often resulting in delays stretching over a month.
With the Diwali season approaching, when sales will skyrocket but many consignments are stuck en route, companies are scrambling to start local manufacturing in India.
The Modi government has also lent a helping hand by developing the sanctioned PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Parks. An integrated textile value chain at one location will reduce logistics costs for the industry. “These are being made with PM Modi’s vision of ‘Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign’,” said a government source.
States like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Gujarat have been identified as major sites that will emerge as India’s textile hotspots.
This timing aligns with the government’s ‘Swadeshi’ push, which it has clarified does not necessarily mean indigenous but locally manufactured and then exported, much like an iPhone.
“Bangladesh has started to feel the heat. Their ports have already become unprofitable. In the last three months, many brands have started exploring manufacturing facilities in India. Once all seven textile parks become fully functional, India will be a textile success story of Asia,” adds the government source.
Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in …Read More
Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in … Read More
September 12, 2025, 13:45 IST
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