As sustainability regulations, digital transformation and artificial intelligence continue to reshape the global apparel industry, more than 300 students, academics and industry professionals joined an online webinar on Monday to explore the skills required for the future of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
The webinar, titled “NextGen RMG Skills: ESG • DPP • ERP • AI,” was jointly organised by Textile And Garments Merchandising and Bunon Bee. The programme was supported by Media Partners – The Textile Today, Textile Focus and Fashion Business Journal, while ecoeen, a Bangladeshi sustainable lifestyle brand, joined the initiative as the Gift Partner.
The event brought together leading academics and industry experts to discuss the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Digital Product Passport (DPP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strengthening Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global apparel industry.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, Vice-Chancellor of BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT), stressed the importance of preparing future professionals with industry-oriented knowledge, technological competence and an innovation-driven mindset.
He said Bangladesh’s greatest strength lies in its skilled human resources and noted that closer collaboration between academia and industry is essential to sustaining the country’s position in the global apparel market. He also highlighted the need to embrace sustainability, digitalisation and continuous learning to address future industry challenges.
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ABM Faqrul Alam, Head of Sustainability at Urmi Group, discussed the increasing significance of ESG in global apparel sourcing. He said sustainability has evolved beyond compliance and has become a strategic business priority that influences buyer confidence, operational excellence and long-term competitiveness.
Speaking on digital transformation, Shahana Akter Kiron, Regional Lead at TextileGenesis, highlighted the importance of Digital Product Passport (DPP) and product traceability in global supply chains. She explained that transparency, verified product information and digital traceability are becoming key requirements for international brands and consumers.
Tanvir Mahidy, Menswear Fashion Designer at Native Youth (Manchester, UK) and London Fashion Week Designer, shared his international perspective on fashion design and product development. He encouraged young professionals to combine creativity with technology, sustainability and commercial awareness to remain competitive in the evolving global fashion industry.
Providing an overview of emerging European regulations, Nazrul Islam, DPP & EU ESPR Researcher and Founder of DPPlive.com, discussed the European Union’s Digital Product Passport initiative and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). He emphasised that early preparation and digital compliance will be essential for Bangladeshi manufacturers to maintain access to international markets.
The webinar was hosted by Md. Salauddin, Advisor to Textile And Garments Merchandising and Bunon Bee, and former Director of Reaz Garments Ltd. In his opening remarks, he said the future of Bangladesh’s RMG industry will depend on professionals who continuously develop their skills and adapt to technological advancement, sustainability requirements and changing global market expectations.
The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, where participants engaged directly with the speakers on ESG implementation, Digital Product Passport, ERP integration, artificial intelligence applications and emerging career opportunities in the textile and apparel sector.
To encourage active participation, the organisers also announced a post-webinar knowledge assessment, with winners receiving eco-friendly gift items sponsored by ecoeen.
According to the organisers, the participation of more than 300 attendees reflects the growing interest among students and professionals in acquiring future-ready skills aligned with global industry trends. They said similar knowledge-sharing initiatives will continue to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and prepare Bangladesh’s next generation of textile and apparel professionals for an increasingly digital and sustainability-driven future.