Building Trust in Global Fashion: How Aware™ Helps RMG Factories Meet Buyers’ Expectations

As global buyers demand clearer answers about their garments and how they were made, “Made in Bangladesh” now carries both opportunity and responsibility. Aware™, a Netherlands-based traceability company, is helping Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector respond with data, clarity, and business value.

Why Bangladesh? A Market Ready for the Next Step

“A few years ago, traceability was a nice-to-have. Today, it’s a necessity,” says Koen Warmerdam, co-founder of Aware™.

With annual garment exports exceeding USD 45 billion and a huge number of skilled workforce, Bangladesh was well positioned to move from volume-led manufacturing to value-led competitiveness. However, many factories struggled to prove sustainability claims to buyers due to paper-based supply chain data.

Strategy at a Glance

Aware™ entered Bangladesh at a moment when buyers wanted evidence of their products. Like, where the fibre came from, how it was processed, and whether claims of sustainability were real. Aware™ responded with a simple but powerful idea: give each garment a digital identity.

By introducing easy-to-use digital product passports inside factories in Gazipur and beyond, the company helped turn scattered, manual records into verified data. And factories using Aware™ started to gain buyer confidence, secured higher-value orders, and found that transparency itself could command a price premium.

Navigating Challenges on the Factory Floor

Implementation was not straightforward. Many factories relied on manual records, and staff required training to adopt digital systems. “Adapting the technology to real factory conditions was critical,” says Muyeed Hasan, Country Manager, Aware™ Bangladesh.

Currently, 10 Bangladeshi factories use Aware™’s platform. The company reports regional growth of around 25% annually, driven by rising demand from international brands for verified sourcing data.

Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Aware™'s story experience is that entering Bangladesh requires patience, risk-taking, strong local partnerships and the capacity to deal with several things simultaneously.

"If you are ready to invest, take risks, and embrace challenges, Bangladesh is a market where ambition meets tangible growth," Warmerdam adds.

For Aware™, the journey is more than business. It's about trust, purpose, and proving that responsible practices can fuel both social impact and financial success.