Institute of Apparel Research & Technology (iART) is established by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) by the beginning of 2007 to cater the research and training need of the apparel and textile sector which is at present the most important industrial sector in Bangladesh. The aim of iART is to serve and support the whole apparel and textile industry in Bangladesh but with a prime importance to knitwear, including both fine knit products (known as circular knitwear) and sweaters (known as flat knitwear) at the beginning.

The areas of iART’s research works are: international trade and trade policy relevant to textile and apparel, market analysis and searching new market for Bangladeshi products, assessing the needs of the industry and finding the ways to meet the needs, productivity improvement in the apparel industry and quality improvement of the products. iART also intends to look into the technological developments taking place in all over the world and will update the industry by disseminating these latest developments.

Another aim of iART is to provide training and educational support to the industry to create skilled manpower of different levels required in the industry. It will act as a supportive catalyst for the government, trade bodies and the industry in developing policy and strategy for the continuous betterment and healthy growth of the apparel and textile industry in Bangladesh.

Dr. AB Mirza Azizul Islam (C), Finance Adviser of GoB, and BKMEA President Mr. Fazlul Hoque are holding the 1st Publication of iART after unwrapping it on 28th August 2007

The first research work and publication by iART is “Impact of removing EU Safeguard Measure against China on the Knitwear Export of Bangladesh and other LDCs after 2007”. Finance adviser Dr. AB Mirza Azizul Islam officially unwrapped this publication and also declared the launching of iART on 28th August 2007.