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AB Fashion Maker proprietor Sanaul Haque Babul stressed the critical importance of Bangladesh expanding its focus beyond manufacturing to prioritise design innovation, thus ensuring its continued prominence in the global readymade garment sector.

‘We are currently manufacturing garments solely based on designs provided by foreign buyers. However, we lack the capacity to innovate our own designs. To secure our position in the long term, it’s imperative that we prioritise the development of our own design capabilities,’ stated Sanaul Haque Babul in a recent interview with ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· Business magazine.

He elaborated that a single product design could yield revenue equivalent to manufacturing 5,000 products alone.

Sanaul pointed out that Europe, the United States, China, and India currently dominate the global clothing market in terms of design, leaving Bangladesh significantly behind.

‘Despite leading in export earnings from the readymade garment industry, Bangladesh has yet to establish a fashion design department at any public university. It’s crucial for the government and the University Grants Commission to address this issue to ensure the industry’s sustainability,’ he emphasised.

He noted that although some private universities offer fashion designing courses, they often lack qualified instructors and focus more on business development rather than fostering design creativity.

Sanaul Haque Babul founded AB Fashion Maker in the late 1990s, which now distributes fabrics and finished goods nationwide and exports to the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

‘I began my journey with just three sewing machines, a cutting table, and an embroidery machine in 1999. By 2003, I had supplied products to 550 outlets of local clothing brands across the country, and I’ve never looked back since,’ shared Sanaul.

He credited his victory in the Anyadin Eid Fashion Contest as the catalyst for his confidence to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

After witnessing the dominance of Indian and Pakistani fabrics and finished goods in the local fashion industry post-2010, Sanaul embarked on establishing a factory for producing digital prints locally.

‘In 2013 and 2014, I travelled to China, Pakistan, and India to gain insights into digital prints. Subsequently, I received training in China and acquired two machines in 2016. However, I encountered a challenge in finding skilled operators. Together with a Chinese expert, I trained a few educated and talented youths to operate the machines,’ he explained.

Within a year, his business experienced significant growth in the local fashion industry.

Sanaul highlighted the substantial profits he earned through digital prints, which also led to a reduction in importing foreign fabrics as other major businesses followed suit.

‘Digital prints are environmentally friendlier compared to traditional dyeing and skin prints. Engaging in digital printing results in 90% lower wastewater production. By treating the wastewater through effluent treatment plants, we can achieve zero pollution,’ claimed Sanaul.

Initially investing around Tk 7 crore in setting up a digital prints factory, he now operates nine machines.

‘I invested all my savings and took loans for this venture. Failure would have posed significant challenges for me. Fortunately, my success surpassed expectations,’ he added.

Regarding the local fashion industry, Sanaul emphasised the need for government policy reforms to bolster the country’s fashion sector.

‘To enhance the local fashion industry, the government should reduce the cost of importing raw materials, enabling businesses to produce fabrics at a lower cost,’ he suggested.

‘Many businessmen prefer importing fabrics over manufacturing due to the high import costs of raw materials and bureaucratic hurdles from government offices,’ he observed, noting that ‘if import prices are lower, domestic manufacturing becomes unfeasible’.

Despite numerous talented youths in the country, Sanaul believes that substantial changes are possible in the local fashion industry in the coming days.

‘Many big businessmen prioritise importing foreign fabrics and finished goods, solely focusing on profit margins and government policy supports it,’ he said adding, ‘It’s imperative for the private sector and large companies to support the local fashion industry’.

Sanaul underscored the significance of preserving the country’s tradition and culture, warning that the collapse of the local fashion industry could endanger this heritage.

He highlighted the increasing demand for digital prints in Dhaka and beyond, citing their ability to accurately reproduce colours and natural imagery.

‘If people boycott Indian and Pakistani products, it would impact businessmen who import these goods. We’ve witnessed price decreases in items like watermelon following such boycotts,’ he noted.

Acknowledging a trend where businesses create local versions of foreign products to meet consumer demands, Sanaul stressed the importance of public awareness and mindset in improving the country’s fashion industry.

Coming from a lower middle-income family background, Sanaul faced numerous challenges but persevered in his entrepreneurial journey.

Despite financial constraints preventing him from completing his education, he rose to prominence and now holds the status of Commercially Important Person as recognised by the government.

Reflecting on his business experiences, Sanaul acknowledged facing losses but emphasised his resilience and willingness to learn from mistakes.

Looking ahead, Sanaul expressed hopes that his children, one of whom studied fashion marketing, another fashion design, and his son currently involved in the business, will propel AB Fashion Maker to greater heights in the next decade.