Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine Magazine May 2018 | Page 29

EXPORTER PERSPECTIVE
Grameen
Group at
a glance
“We’re looking
forward to export
again and the
good news is we’ve
already got approval
of the sample of
both fabrics and
garments from
some buyers in
USA. Price has also
been fixed and all
parameters are
being taken care of.”
Grameen
Family
• Grameen Bank,
• Grameen
Solutions,
• Grameen Star
Education,
• Grameen Danone,
• Grameen Veolia,
• Grameen America,
• Grameen Around
the World.
– Md. Ashraful Hassan,
Managing Director,
Grameen Shamogree
Not For
Profit
• Grameen Trust,
Group could help them with raw
materials, marketing their offerings,
while also ensuring decent
earnings, came to being Grameen
Shamogree. Grameen Group initially
started this new endeavour in
social business with a handful of
weavers from Sirajgong area, which
eventually touched 300.
“Initially there was huge
response from everyone about the
handmade fabrics but once we
decided to make garments and export
the same, buyers set up various
criteria that were difficult to fulfil,”
explains Ashraful. Not to be deterred
by the turn of events, Ashraful
focused his attention on the domestic
market for the time being while doing
his groundwork to ensure successful
garment exports later.
“Initially we had five outlets
to sell products, like pyjama,
panjabi and fatua all made from
handmade fabrics sourced from
these weavers and now we have
10 outlets…,” explains Ashraful,
who soon to the customers’ delight
introduced shirts (Grameen Check),
distinguished by their trademark
chequered patterns.
“Though we are catering both
to fabrics and readymade
garments now, but we do not have
a dedicated manufacturing unit
yet…,” bemoans Ashraful. Despite
this handicap, Ashraful has
been successful in tying up with
some manufacturing units that
are doing small order quantities
(300-400 pieces/day) for him. To
add value, Ashraful employed 20
girls from a remote village to come
up with innovative designs on
women’s top.
Handmade fabrics being mostly
cotton and not suitable for
winterwear, Ashraful tied-up with
new set of weavers to develop
woven fabric that are more suitable
for winterwear, and also twills.
“Last year we had good business
after adding the warm clothes
like jackets. We’re increasing our
capacity every year. This year we
made it almost double…,” says
Ashraful, who besides offering
Taka 16/per yard fabric is also
ensuring 350 days employment to
each weaver. Grameen Group has
also taken up the responsibility
of their children’s education
while also offering health care to
every family. • Grameen Byabosa
Bikash,
“We’re looking forward to export
again and the good news is we’ve
already got approval of the sample
of both fabrics and garments from
some buyers in USA. Price has
also been fixed and all parameters
are being taken care of,” says a
very upbeat Ashraful, hopeful of
getting a befitting manufacturing
unit that could carry out the
orders. In case of any contingency,
the buyers have reportedly agreed
to take the fabrics and place
the order in a unit handpicked
by them. • Grameen
Healthcare
Services Ltd.,
“Profit will be ploughed back to our
producers, and also to our workers
and to our employees. We’re
already providing them almost
11% higher price per yard now. If
we have good business, we will
provide another 20% hike. We’ve
taken the responsibility of their
children’s education and health
care; may be we’ll take some more
initiatives like providing affordable
home loans and loans for business
expansion,” winds up Ashraful on
a positive note.
• Grameen Kalyan,
• Grameen Krishi
Foundation,
• Grameen Mothso
O Poshu-Shampad
Foundation,
• Grameen Shakti,
• Grameen Shikkha,
• Grameen Telecom,
• Grameen Fund,
• Grameen
Healthcare Trust,
• Grameen Uddog,
• Grameen
Shamogree,
• Grameen
Communications,
• Grameen Credit
Agricole,
• Grameen
Foundation.
www.apparelresources.com | MAY 2018 | Apparel Online Bangladesh
29