By Kristi Ellis
“I’m definitely a little surprised at a 41 percent increase from Bangladesh,” said Julia K. Hughes, president at the U.S. Fashion Industry Association. “They are exceeding what we had seen as a trend of faster growth.”
Hughes attributed some of the surge to more goods being brought in for the holiday shipping period, which led to higher apparel import growth overall, as well as to efforts by many brands and retailers to help factory owners improve fire, safety, electrical and structural issues in Bangladesh.