Textile fibre

The materials which consist fibrous structure and length is thousand times higher than its width and can be spun into yearn, suitable for weaving or knitting and easily colored by suitable dye stuff are known as textile fibre.

Classification of textile fibres :

1. Cellulose (vegetable) : cotton, flax, hemp, jute, sisal, manila kemp (abaca).
2. Keratin (animal)       : alpaca, camel, cashmere, horse, mohair, rabbit, wool, silk.
3. Mineral                   : asbestos.

Man made fibres : acetate, metallic, polyester, acrylic, novoloid, rayon, anidex, nylon-6, viscose, aramid, nylon 6:6, rubber, nytril, saran, azlon, olefin, spandex, glass, polythene, vinal, polypropylene, vinyon.

Procurement of garments export order

The most critical work is the procurement of garment export order. Normally garments export order is found from the potential garment importers called garment buyer. Anybody wants to collect garments export order, should be able to convince the buyer. When the buyer is convinced about garment production, garments quality, garments costing and garments shipment ability of a garment exporter, he or she can think about issuing a garments export order.

Knowledge requirement for a garments merchandiser

A brief guide about the knowledge and skillness requirement of a garments merchandiser is pointed out below.

1. Should be a smart person.
2. Should be a technically sound person having clear concept about garments merchandising.
3. Should have clear knowledge about procurement of an export order.
4. Should have the ability to plan and execute time schedule.
5. Should have clear knowledge about banking and commercial formalities.
6. Should have a clear knowledge about sourcing of raw materials.
7. Should be hard working and able to maintain commitment.

Duties and responsibilities of a garments merchandiser

The major duties and responsibilities of a garments merchandiser are listed below :

 1. To produce or collect a garment export order.
2. To estimate time schedule for the exports of those garments as per L/C.
3. To estimate all the raw materials needed for the garments to manufacture and export.
4. To monitor collection of raw materials as per time schedule.
5. To monitor quantity and quality of the collected raw materials.
6. To select garment factory if needed.
7. To monitor garments production progress as per time schedule.
8. To monitor desired/imposed quality level of the produced garment.
9. To monitor garments packing instructions.
10. To monitor banking or shipment arrangements as per time schedule.
11. To maintain continuous liaison with his or her controlling authorities.
12. To earn profit as per garment export execution. 

Role of a garments merchandiser

The main role of a garments merchandiser is to collect garments export order (Export L/C), produce the garments, export the garments and earn profit. To perform those functions successfully needs lot of knowledge, experience and tremendous effort for a merchandiser. What type of knowledge and experience needed for a garments merchandiser can be understood from the next topic.

Garments production & export of Bangladesh

Garments are produced in a garments factory on industrial basis for all the people of a specific country. Bangladesh is one of the best garments producing and exporting countries in the world market. At present there are more than 4500 garments factories running in Bangladesh. Growth of garments factories started in Bangladesh in 1980. Foreign currency earning through garments export from Bangladesh started in 1980-81 with starting figure US $3.24 million which was not countable in percentage of the total national foreign currency earnings. In 2007-08 financial year, the percentage of foreign currency earning through garments export reached from 0% to 80%.    

At present Bangladesh is producing and exporting more than 75 item of garments. The most common items are shirt, trouser, jacket, sports wear, T-shirt, polo t-shirts, ladies wear, sweater, socks, hats etc. This produced items are exported in USA, Canada, EEC, Japan, Australia, Middle-east and many other countries in the world. Cheapest labor cost is the biggest advantage for Bangladeshi garments producers and exporters.

It is counted that around 20,00,000 people are currently working full time basis in Bangladeshi garments. But the number is not enough. We also need 40,00,000 people to support this industry. Among those people 90% people are illiterate and remaining 10% is counted for literate.   

Introduction to garments merchandising

We should understand the term "Garments Merchandising" at first. "Garments" means apparels, or clothing which we need to wear every day. "Merchandising" means buying, producing, selling of any goods or products for local or international market. If we combine this two English term then the meaning becomes like following definition.


All the activities involved in procuring export order of any garment of any particular design for a specific quantity, analysis of the garment requires to produce the garments, production of those quantity of garments with specific attention to required quality level, production scheduling & exporting the garments within fixed time frame, may be called garments merchandising.


From the said definition of garments merchandising it can be assumed clearly that procuring a garment export order that is export L/C, production of those garments as per buyers satisfaction within limited time is not easy. The activities involved in garments merchandising is normally done by a dynamic and expert person called garments merchandiser. The person "Garments Merchandiser" is one of the important key person of garments production and garments export sector.