Fashion
Iran war-related fuel crisis hits Bangladesh garment exporters hard
Bangladesh’s vulnerability to global energy volatility is striking. Reports indicate that nearly half of its total energy supply was import-dependent as recently as 2023. This reliance has since intensified, with imported fuel now reportedly meeting roughly two-thirds of its power needs, even as much of this fuel snakes its way through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, making the country acutely vulnerable to disruptions triggered by the conflict.
Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imported fuel has left it highly exposed to disruptions from the Iran conflict, amid reports of fuel shortages disrupting production and transportation.
Economists reportedly cautioned that a slowdown in industrial production could trigger a chain reaction, resulting in job losses and reduced export earnings.
And, as might be expected, industries in Bangladesh are showing signs of strain, if reports are to be believed.
Fuel shortages and supply delays have become relentless operational hurdles. Extended power outages, sometimes lasting several hours, bring machines to a halt, and with insufficient fuel for backup generators, factories have no fallback to keep production running.
Nowhere perhaps is this more consequential than in the apparel sector, the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. Accounting for more than 80 per cent of export earnings and over a tenth of GDP, the industry is not just a commercial enterprise; it is a national pillar supporting millions of jobs and sustaining key foreign exchange reserves.
Interacting earlier with the media, a senior official of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) reportedly noted that power outages have surged to as much as five hours a day since the conflict began, while diesel shortages have rendered backup generators increasingly unreliable.
“The ongoing crisis is clearly disrupting garment industry operations,” a senior representative of another garment manufacturers’ body claimed, adding that many factory owners were struggling to secure adequate fuel to run generators and move goods on schedule, while production in numerous factories was interrupted because fuel deliveries were delayed or were insufficient.
The shortage is not only slowing production but is also putting the entire supply chain under pressure. In many cases, workers cannot be deployed consistently because production lines cannot operate at full capacity, while limited fuel for transportation is making it difficult to get finished goods to the ports for export.
On the other hand, rising fuel prices are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, inflating operational costs and squeezing already thin profit margins in a fiercely competitive apparel market, even as the country’s fossil fuel import bill is projected to surge significantly, adding strain at the macroeconomic level.
Meanwhile, economists have reportedly warned that a slowdown in industrial production could set off a chain reaction, leading to job losses, declining export revenues, and far-reaching consequences for the overall economy.
In a country where the apparel sector is deeply intertwined with social and economic stability, such disruptions carry the risk of broader systemic stress.
The crisis, therefore, is not merely about energy; it is about safeguarding economic momentum and social cohesion. As such, calls for decisive policy intervention are growing louder, even as experts emphasised that managing demand is as critical as securing supply.
Prioritising fuel allocation for key industries like apparel could help cushion the immediate blow, while temporary curbs on non-essential energy use may create breathing room, they argued, while underscoring the urgency of long-term structural reforms, diversifying energy sources, investing in renewables, and improving fuel management systems to reduce exposure to external shocks.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)
China will step up building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
China and Vietnam are accelerating efforts to navigate bilateral trade towards a more balanced and sustainable course.
President Xi Jinping recently held talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
During the visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Xi said both countries should work together in their modernisation drive, accelerate the alignment of development strategies and prioritise infrastructure connectivity.
While meeting Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during the state visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Wang said both sides should focus on implementing the high-level common perceptions, including raising bilateral trade turnover to $500 billion in future.
Hung urged China to expand imports of Vietnamese goods, broaden the list of products eligible for tariff preferences and further open its market. He also called for the mutual recognition of quarantine results for agro-forestry-fishery products, facilitation of Vietnamese exports via cross-border e-commerce, and expansion of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices across Chinese localities, according to a Vietnamese news agency.
China will continue to support Vietnam in setting up additional trade promotion offices, following those already established in Chongqing, Hangzhou and Haikou, Wang responded.
China also expressed readiness to support Vietnam’s stronger exports through cross-border e-commerce, encouraging greater visibility of the Vietnam National Pavilion on Chinese e-commerce platforms beyond JD.com to better promote Vietnamese products to Chinese consumers.
China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner and second-largest export market, while Vietnam continues to be China’s biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
British actors Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth star alongside models Alva Claire, Babacar N’Doye and Sacha Quenby and a cast of synchronised swimmers and divers.
Burberry’s High Summer 2026 campaign captures Britain’s nostalgic lido culture through a sunlit film featuring Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth.
Blending heritage check with pastel tones, the collection spans swimwear, relaxed tailoring, raffia bags and lightweight layers, evoking effortless, poolside summer style.
Directed by Francis Plummer, the campaign reflects a warm, communal British summer mood.
The campaign film is directed by Francis Plummer and shot by photographer Ryan McGinley. The cameras move from loungers to diving boards, catching mid-air dives and friends stretched out in the hazy afternoon light. Before long, the best spots by the pool are claimed with a Burberry towel. Summer has begun. The film is underscored by the TONE remix of ‘Beating’ by Tirzah.
‘A lido holds a particular kind of nostalgia for the British. The moment the sun comes out, we make the most of the weather. We wanted to bring to life a warm summer’s day spent in and around the water’s edge with friends.’ said Daniel Lee Chief Creative Officer, Burberry.
Key styles
The High Summer 2026 collection features the Burberry Check in heritage-inspired sand beige and pastel shades of aubergine purple and cornflower blue.
The iconic Burberry Check bikini is the beach essential, alongside matching swimsuits and men’s swim shorts trimmed with check.
Poolside separates include tops, skirts and shirts cut from cotton voile, plus cover-up dresses woven with a tonal Burberry Check and deckchair-inspired stripes. Ruffled trims and ties at the neckline capture the floaty, effortless feel of the collection. Festival
tank tops in ribbed cotton jersey are trimmed with check straps, while looks are wrapped in lightweight wool silk scarves.
For men, collared shirts and shorts are tailored to relaxed lines and finished with fresh interpretations of the Burberry Check, from textural weaves to intricate embroidered designs. The co-ord set is crafted from lightweight cotton poplin printed with a playful seahorse pattern in honeysuckle pink.
The classic cotton piqué polo shirt comes in a spectrum of vivid and neutral colours. Burberry Check is subtly placed at the placket and trims the collar of T-shirts in soft cotton jersey.
Lightweight hooded jackets are ideal for cooler evenings and unexpected showers, the new-season designs woven in aubergine purple and cornflower blue check.
In shoes, the new Knight Runner sneakers offer a streamlined, low-profile shape for summer. Sandals are elevated in the form of the whipstitched leather Baez and check-trimmed suede Urchin styles, while Burberry Check slides and Pavilion sandals are made for the beach.
Lightweight Margate bags are handcrafted in Madagascar from locally sourced raffia palm leaves, dyed in signature sand beige Burberry Check. Accessories include crocheted bucket hats and wraparound sunglasses, designed to shield from the sun.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)
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