H&M joins hands with Bangladesh Denim Expo

Swedish multinational clothing-retail company H&M Group is collaborating with Bangladesh Denim Expo to raise awareness in the denim industry regarding environmental, social and economic sustainability through its upcoming edition.

The 11th edition of the expo is going to be held at the International Convention City, Bashundhara in Dhaka from November 5-6.

Ziaur Rahman, regional country manager of H&M Bangladesh said, "I am delighted and excited for the collaboration. Bangladesh Denim Expo is a good platform to initiate discussions on water and climate change in Bangladesh."

Mostafiz Uddin, Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Denim Expo said having a company with the status of H&M Group as a collaborating partner for the expo is a great honour, adding, "Our collaboration will allow a wider audience to see the invaluable sustainable contributions that H&M is making both locally and internationally," he added.

The theme for this year's edition of Bangladesh Denim Expo is "Responsibility," which aims to address the level of social, environmental and economic responsibility the apparel industry holds in ensuring ethical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable production processes.

"Conducting business and developing products within the denim industry can have far-reaching consequences on the environment, on the people making the products, and on the products' end use and lifespan. 

"Bangladesh Denim Expo believe that all stakeholders in the apparel industry have to acknowledge this responsibility and to analyze our business practices, for the benefit of all," Mostafiz added. 

Through a series of product displays, presentations, seminar sessions and panel discussions, the expo will encourage healthy debate and interaction among exhibitors and visitors to champion a more responsible denim industry.

A total of 91 exhibitors from 11 countries including host Bangladesh, are going to participate in this year's expo. The other participating countries are China, Japan, Italy, India, Singapore, Brazil, Spain, Pakistan, Turkey and Germany.

In this edition, exhibitors will display fabrics, garments, threads, machinery, finishing equipment and accessories, positioning the show as a true top-to-toe representation of Bangladesh's denim industry – the second largest denim exporter to the EU and third largest to the United States.