Who Makes Gen Woo’s Clothes?

Gen Woo is a Singapore-based sustainable fashion brand committed to making better choices. Continually looking for ways to improve the social conditions of those who work in its supply chain, the family-run Bangladesh factory that produces Gen Woo’s garments has received several accreditations. Offering transparency, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement, the factory promotes a safe, inclusive and fair working environment for its workers, providing nurseries, free hot meals, and supporting local communities. 

Whilst garment production can often conjure up images of factory workers on sewing machine production lines, this is only part of the picture. Around the world, roughly one in eight workers are involved in various jobs in the fashion and textiles industry.

These workers may be operating machinery that processes raw material into yarns or fabrics or the dyeing vats that are part of treating a textile, or they may be managing product logistics and retail. From spinning and knitting to yarn dying, the makers are the most integral part of the business, and you are invited to come and meet some of them.

 

Meet Md. Sanawar Hossen: Supervisor 

Since joining the CMTBD group in 2009 as an assistant operator, Hoossen has received several promotions and now works as a floor supervisor within the All-Over Print Fabric Quality department. His responsibilities include operating rotary machinery and quality checking. 

Daily activities: Hossen arrives at 8am daily to meet the operator and discuss the day’s workload. He will raise issues concerning any quality issues the department may face. Throughout the day, Hossen will cross-check all the rotary machinery to ensure they meet the factory’s standards for quality control. 

Job Environment: Hossen noted that he is most proud of his journey from assistant operator to supervisor, and setting a good example for other workers is the best compliment he can have.

 

Meet Mst Anjura: Folding Helper & Quality Control 

Anjura joined the factory in 2019 as a folding helper in the washing department. Thanks to her knowledge of wash garment defects, Anjura also assures quality control within the washing department. 

Daily Activities: Anjura starts her day at 8am with general housekeeping of her table, organizing and sorting through the garments. Anjura is tasked with cross-checking each garment after production for quality control, then packing into boxes and delivering.

Job Environment: Anjura feels very content working in the Bangladesh factory and aims to build a long-term career within the company to earn more money for her family.

 

Meet Mst. Sewely Akter: Senior Sewing Operator 

As a senior sewing operator, Akter has a decade of sewing experience in the textile industry.

Daily Activities: Akter's daily tasks include preparing her sewing machine, housekeeping, checking the needles and organising her workload for a full day of sewing. 

Job Environment: Akter has been working within the company since 2013, but due to severe sickness, had to take some time off to recover. After returning to her position in the Bangladesh factory, Akter has progressed in her career and is now the proud owner of land for her own small farm.

 

Meet Mst. Parvin Akter: Lab Officer   

After joining the company as a Date Entry Officer in 2011, Akter is now a Lab Officer in the dyeing department. 

Daily Activities: Akter begins her daily duties by collecting all of the lab tests completed by the technicians and inputting the data into the system. 

Job Environment: After progressing in her career and receiving a promotion, Akter loves her new role and the environment. 

We also reviewed our list of chemicals and dyes, opting for options that are both efficient and environmentally conscious.

 

Meet Md Arman Islam: Senior Fitter & Mechanical Maintenance 

Islam is a senior fitter and installs new machinery in addition to any repairs in the dye house. After joining the factory in Bangladesh back in 2012 as a helper in the dye house, Islam’s performance and work ethic have seen him promoted and transferred to Senior Fitter of dyeing machines in the Mauritius factory. 

Job Environment: Islam very much enjoys his work within the company and, following his promotion, has been able to buy land and send his brother abroad to Malaysia. 

 

Meet Suchint Kumar: Skating Trainer  

Skating is a useful means of transportation to keep up with the fast-paced nature of working on the factory floor. Kumar is a multi-skilled member of staff with several roles within the factory. As a skating trainer, he teaches new operators how to safely skate around the factory and is the first point of call should any issues arise. 

Daily Activities: Kumar’s day consists of skating and checking each spinning plant's corners for fire banks, first aid and online machine breakdown. He is also tasked with training new incoming operators between 11am-12pm.

Job Environment: As an expatriate born in India, Kumar says he feels at home in the factory and enjoys his job, whether working in the Mauritius or Bangladesh factory. Kumar uses his salary to help pay for his son's education and other family expenses.

 

Meet Md Asaduzaman: Utility In Charge 

Having joined the company over a decade ago as a boiler operator, Asaduzaman has worked his way up the ranks from a supervisor to being in charge of all the utility sections in the DTML. 

Daily Activities: Asaduzaman ensures all boiler plants are routinely inspected, as well as attending daily meetings with the MRU team. 

Job Environment: Having already achieved several promotions, Asaduzaman is continually looking to learn and progress in his career. Grateful for the job and opportunities to climb the ranks within the factory, Asaduzaman claims his family already has a better standard of living since joining the company. 

 

Meet Md Nur Hossen: Senior Operator

Working in the dyeing department, Hossen is a Senior Operator who can work across both yarn and fabric dye machines. 

Daily Activities: Hossen works on a shift system, and his daily duties include the handing over of operators across machinery in the dyeing department. 

Job Environment: Working shifts offer Hossen more time to do additional work. He states that he loves his job.

 

Meet Md Omar Faruk: Quality Inspector 

With his knowledge of knitted fabrics, Faruk has worked as a quality inspector in the knitting department for seven years, checking all products before distribution to ensure they are of the highest quality.

Daily Activities: Each day, Faruk has to ensure each bale knitted on the knitting machine has been cross-checked before being released for delivery.

Job Environment: Faruk very much enjoys his job within the factory and likes the set-up and organisation. 

 

Offering transparency, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement throughout the supply chain, the family-run factory that supplies Gen Woo’s garments ensures the safety of factory workers by implementing inspections and workplace programmes. Working conditions within the factory are highly regulated, with strong policies in place to manage social and environmental welfare and are subject to regular audits by industry body Sedex.

At Gen Woo, it is incredibly important to provide information about the origin of its clothes. The more information that consumers are armed with — and the clearer that information is — the easier it is for them to make better choices.

For further reading on Gen Woo's stance on social and environmental issues, visit our journal and sustainability content. To be part of our story, sign up for our newsletter now to access exclusive deals and more.

 

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