Readymade clothing are those that are readily accessible in stores for various age groups, with various color combinations, current styles, newest patterns, and trimmings, and that are also appropriate for different events and seasons. The move from handcrafted sewing and tailor-made clothing to standardization of sizing for mass manufacture is known as ready-to-wear.
Bangladesh is a third-world and developing country in southern Asia, with a population of about 164 million people. Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry employs approximately 4.2 million young, urbanizing workers, contributes considerably to the GDP, and is the country’s leading earner of foreign currency.
Definition of Readymade Garments
In today’s fast-paced world, every member of the family enjoys keeping up with the newest fashion trends in their wardrobe. They prefer to dress nicely and flaunt their wealth. It is tough to find the time to get garments sewn in today’s fast-paced world. We must travel to the market to purchase fabric, locate a tailor, place an order for stitching, and wait for the dress to be completed.
To solve this issue, we offer an alternate method of purchasing a ready-made outfit. Almost every occasion, family members choose to get their clothing from the major premade stores. They are widely accessible for people of various ages. Along with the clothes, appropriate accessories are offered.
History of Readymade Garments
Clothing has been created by hand for the majority of human history. Even today, despite completely automated textile production, clothing are sewed and patched together by human hands on sewing machines.
People did not wear fitting clothing before to 1300 CE (AD). People in the Middle East wore long, flowing robes. Medieval Europeans used linen undertunics and wool top tunics composed of such strong fabric that a garment could be worn for a lifetime. Women spun wool into thread, while weavers, often men, fashioned cloth in their homes.
Between 1825 and 1830, readymade apparel first appeared in the United States. Former mayor George Opdyke established the first industrial enterprise in New York City. In 1831, he established a factory on Hudson Street.
By 1835, New York had many producers of middle grade ready-to-wear men’s clothing; nonetheless, the numbers produced were limited, and everything was done by hand. Before 1840, the south became an early market for prefabricated clothing.
The advancement of ready-made clothes, the broader variety of designs and materials available, and the simplicity with which such clothing may be obtained have primarily encouraged homemakers to acquire family wardrobes of ready-to-wear garments.
Merits of Readymade Garments
- They are widely accessible in various locations.
- A wide range of styles and materials are available.
- Garments for different seasons and events might be purchased as needed.
- Saves time spent on production, as opposed to tailor-made or handcrafted clothing.
- The most recent fashion trends might be updated.
- Depending on availability, branded products might be purchased.
- Fabric maintenance may be made simple with the right label instructions.
- Customers may try on the items to see how they fit.
Demerits of Readymade Garments
- Before purchasing readymade clothing, it is necessary to understand suitable sizing.
- Garments may not be suitable for the buyer’s taste.
- Because of the incorrect size, proper fitting is not always achievable.
- Readymade clothing might be less durable in some circumstances due to poor sewing quality.
History of Readymade Garments in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s development is aided by the readymade clothes sector. The “Made in Bangladesh” label has also given honor to the country, establishing it as a respected brand across the world.
Bangladesh, long dubbed a “bottomless basket” by cynics, has now evolved into a “basket full of miracles.” Despite its meager resources, the country has maintained an annual average GDP growth rate of 6% and achieved exceptional social and human development.
In Bangladesh’s textile history, we already have a strong idea of RMG. Now, let’s take a closer look at it.
The textile industry originally appeared in the 1960s of the nineteenth century. For the first time, the Bangladesh textile industry sold Mercury shirts to the European market in 1965-66. Reaz Garments, Jewel Garments, and Paris Garments were the three most notable industries in 1977-78.
Several clothing enterprises emerged with the development of the garments sector, including Stylecraft Limited, Aristocraft, Azim Group, and Sunman Group.
These are some important phases of Bangladesh RMG:
- 1977-1980: Early period of growth
- 21982-1985: Boom days
- 1985: Imposition of quota restrictions
- 1990: The knitwear sector developed significantly
- 1995-95: Child labor issue and its solution
- 2003: Withdrawal of Canadian quota restriction
- 2005: Phase-out of export-quota system
- 2013: Uncertainty about the US GSP and different internal problems, including political unrest and poor working environment
Present Situation of Readymade Garments Sector in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, there are now around 5000 garment companies in the RMG industry. This field employs more than 12 thousand people, 85 percent of them are women. The RMG business is now Bangladesh’s top export earner, with approximately $24.49 billion in exports in the previous fiscal year.
It’s wonderful news for us because Bangladesh is outperforming other South Asian nations in terms of providing the readymade clothing sector. It is a huge accomplishment for us as a developing third-world country.
Bangladesh produces a wide range of clothes. There are two types of ready-made clothing. The first category is woven items, while the second category is knitted products.
Shirts, pants, and trousers are examples of woven items. Knitted items, on the other hand, include T-shirts, Polo Shirts, Undergarments, Socks, Stockings, Sweaters, and so on. Woven garment revenues have always dominated Bangladesh’s export sector.
Bangladesh has 4000 garment industries, according to the BGMEA. According to their website, manufacturing of the knitted item is fast expanding at a significant rate, and it now accounts for almost 40% of export revenues in Bangladeshi economics.
These are critical factors of success in the RMG sector of Bangladesh:
- a large worker force,
- Human resources who are qualified and skilled
- Technological advancements,
- Government assistance for textiles and clothes
- Zones of special economic and export processing,
- Establishment of textile and clothing settlements
- The motivation to use local inputs,
- Duty exemption for the importation of inputs/machines
- Reduced income tax,
- And foreign assistance such as GSP, GSP+, duty-free access, and so on.
The readymade garments sector of Bangladesh is prospering everyday and bringing great success for our country.
