Ask any expert and they’ll tell you that sportswear is the category to bet on! The numbers say it all. In 2024, the global sportswear market was valued at US $ 211.57 billion. By 2032, it’s expected to grow to US $ 298.06 billion, with a steady 4.41 per cent growth rate.
This presents a huge opportunity for Bangladesh’s RMG sector, especially for brands like Fila Holdings. Fila already works with Bangladeshi manufacturers, taking advantage of the country’s strong apparel and footwear production. The RMG industry also produces a wide range of knitwear and woven sportswear, including jackets, sweaters, T-shirts, shirts and pants. Now is the perfect time for Bangladesh to expand its partnership with Fila and capture a bigger share of its sourcing.
Fila currently operates 500 distribution centres and nearly 300 stores worldwide. The brand mainly caters to Gen Z and Millennials, aged 18 to 35. The company is also seeing strong financial growth. Its revenue grew 2.5 per cent year-on-year to 1.18 trillion won (US $ 887 million) in April–June 2024, while its operating profit jumped by 52.4 per cent to 140.15 billion won (US $ 97.71 million).
Fila has also expanded beyond sportswear. In 2011, it acquired Acushnet Holdings, the parent company of premium golf brands – Titleist and FootJoy. Moreover, the company has implemented Near Field Communication (NFC) tags in its apparel, allowing consumers to access detailed information about the product’s origins and environmental impact.
It also invests around 3 per cent of its annual revenue into research and development, concentrating on the creation of high-performance, eco-friendly products that cater to market needs. The FILA Research Centre partners with global research institutions to explore and develop materials, ensuring both quality and innovation in its offerings.
The brand’s focus on ethical and sustainable practices is also something that suits the strength of Bangladesh’s RMG sector. For instance, FILA Holdings was recently included in the prestigious FTSE4Good Index, with only 24 companies globally out of 1,119 achieving this distinction. A statement from the brand mentioned that FILA received the highest score (5 points) for supply chain management, reflecting its ongoing efforts in transparency and ESG risk management.
Fila Holdings has already been added to the DJSI Korea list, which recognises companies for their efforts in sustainability and good business practices. For the uninitiated, DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Indices) is a ranking by S&P Global, a financial research company that tracks the top companies worldwide based on their environmental, social and financial performance. Currently, Bangladesh boasts 225 plus factories with leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED). This makes the country a natural partner for Fila as it continues to prioritise ethical sourcing and eco-friendly production.
