Sri Lanka’s Export Growth and Sustainability Booms in Apparel Industry

Sri Lanka is shining in the edge of apparel industry with sustainability and ethical practice. In 2019 Sri Lanka has seen a boost in their export of sustainable apparel which accounts for an export of 5Bn USD. It is highly expected that the global impact of sustainable movement will take Sri Lanka in the next level of promising export growth.

Sri Lanka is one of the best destination for sustainable apparel manufacturers in the world. The practice has long been noticed by the global consumers and fashion brands in Sri Lanka. This transformation is driving this nation toward a millennium goal of sustainable and harmless fashion creation.

Sri Lanka’s Export Growth

The global fashion industry is now around 5 trillion dollars and expected to become 9 trillion dollars by 2023. (Source: Statista) 

In global comparison, almost half of the total revenue comes the Chinese market. Besides, USA is another market stands in the position of second. USA alone is sourcing Sri Lanka’s sustainable apparel in a large volume. Due to the rapid growth of sustainable and ethical fashion market. Sri Lanka is getting attention from all over the world.

According to Statista report, Sri Lanka is maintaining a rapid growth in exporting fashion product. To be precise US$176m revenue came from this segment with a 7.0% growth. This Asian nation is so potential that by 2023, revenue in the fashion segment is expected to be almost double. The entire fashion export accounts for US$176 and Apparel is the biggest segment with $122m dollars revenue.

Sustainable Apparel Manufacturing Initiative

Sri Lanka is considered as one the largest apparel exporting nation in south Asia and they are expected to become US$8bn by 2020.

This is really huge in compare to its other competitors. Especially the growth is huge because their sustainability practice is driving buyers from around the world.

So what are they actually doing for sustainable practice?

Sri Lanka has taken this sustainability challenge from the beginning of the sustainability movement. They are even fist to respond the movement with positive industrial law and practices.

Changes in Apparel and Textile Industry

In the last couple of decades, Sri Lanka has undergone a lot of changes in its existing apparel and textile industry.  The first thing to mention is, the technology based factories and office environment. Sri Lanka has been also adopting latest technology for manufacturing and employee management system. On the other hand, they have been implementing latest technology to reduce any textile and apparel waste.

Though they ensure ethical manufacturing but labor cost is relatively low. This is the reason behind the growth of Sri Lanka as world one of the largest apparel manufacturing nation. Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s secret and Gap are some of the largest buyers of Sri Lankan apparel.

Maintaining Eco-Friendliness

It is the time for global change and sustainability movement is taking over all the topic. When other countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and China are facing serious hazardous issues, Lanka has something better to offer.

Sri Lanka has taken a step further to sustainable clothing manufacturing and they have been gaining good impression in the global arena. A lot of global brands have been moving forward for the sustainable clothing and Sir Lanka has become the largest contributor of eco-friendly clothing manufacturing.

Factories are maintaining proper instruction given from government and water pollution by the dye and chemical industry is looked properly. Because they know that water pollution is a big trouble for their own existence besides. Manufacturers are also focusing on sustainable textile materials so that they can contribute properly to the global ecological system.

Ethical Apparel Manufacturing Practice

Ethical practice is another important ideal for Sri Lanka which they have been maintaining. Sri Lanka is always trying to make sure everything is being monitored and ethical manufacturing is one of them.

Ethical manufacturing refers to ethical practices during and after the manufacturing of apparel products. So Sri Lanka is one of the pioneer in this practice.  

They also make sure that employees are getting what they are supposed to get. Besides they also maintain proper environment in the factories so that they can work in peace.  

Bangladesh, Vietnam and China along with many other apparel manufacturing nations have failed to control factories. Many of them are violating government rules and workers are forced unethically to do extra work in a very cheap rate.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka has been a winner in the process of ethical fashion manufacturing. Lankan workers are comparatively happier than others. Besides Sri Lankans are working in top management in other manufacturing nations like Bangladesh and Vietnam. So why is that. May be because they have the skill to properly handle workers and improve practicing better HR policy.

To conclude, we can understand that Sri Lanka is way more efficient in sustainability practice and due to that the export growth is rapidly increasing. Depending on that, Sri Lanka is expecting to become a South Asia’s new fashion manufacturing hub. Besides, Sri Lanka is also expecting to export USD10bn worth of apparel and most of them will be sustainable fashion to contribute to the world eco-system.