The Woolmark Company, part of Australian Wool Innovation, has been a pioneer in the wool industry, supporting the use of Australian Merino wool in textiles worldwide. Keen to grow their presence in South Asia as part of its Emerging Markets strategy, Woolmark has expanded its reach into Bangladesh, emphasizing the country’s potential as a key market in the region. Recently, Team Textile Focus visited a leading Textile Mill In Bangladesh, where they are transforming Bangladesh RMG exports with Woolmark. Read the Full conversation –
Textile Focus: Could you please share the journey with the Woolmark Company?
Jullian: ABMT Textiles has been a Woolmark licensee for over twenty years in Australia. Woolmark is a global brand, and our business has always had a strong focus on wool. We’ve been producing wool cut-and-sew knits for the outdoor and fashion markets for around two decades in Australia. About four years ago, ABMT and the NR Group formed a strategic partnership to share intellectual property and expertise in specialty products. Our goal was to bring wool to more consumers around the world. Expanding into Bangladesh has allowed us to create new price points and reach wider markets.
Working with NR’s team of professionals in spinning, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and garment making, we are now very pleased to release wool-blend products globally. These are fully managed products—from fiber sourcing and spinning through to ready-made garments. We sell yarns to sweater-knitting businesses and weavers, fabrics to other cut-and-sew houses, and supply to RMG providers across Bangladesh. Additionally, our own vertical RMG business units deliver complete package solutions.
Textile Focus: Regarding the journey with Woolmark, what challenges are you facing regarding technical issues?
Jullian: This is where the partnership has worked really well. Over the last 20–25 years, ABMT has overcome many wool-related challenges in Australia, so we’ve been able to fast-track wool development in Bangladesh by applying those learnings. One challenge has been sourcing the correct dyestuffs, as there isn’t much wool dyeing in Bangladesh. We’ve worked with our dye partners to ensure availability of the dyes we require. Fortunately, NR Group’s equipment is highly compatible with wool production. When I first visited NR Group about four or five years ago, it felt like being given the keys to a Ferrari—the machinery was world-class, from the best manufacturers. Equipment and capability have not been challenges. The key focus has been staff training. Our teams travel frequently between Australia and Bangladesh, with technicians from both sides working closely together. The Bangladesh team has embraced these new challenges enthusiastically, recognizing the value of creating high-value wool products.
Textile Focus: As a vertical setup unit, why NR collaboration ABMT for Woolmark?
Arifur Rahman: The textile market in Bangladesh is highly saturated, but this partnership allows us to bring genuine value-added products without reinventing the wheel. Wool has traditionally been considered expensive. With the technology we’ve developed and a fully vertical production process, we can now offer wool garments that are more accessible. While not the cheapest garments, they are strong value-added products that retailers can present confidently to their customers. This positions them to compete with global players like Icebreaker Merino and others using 100% Merino wool. It’s a real game-changer for the Bangladesh textile industry.
Textile Focus: By doing this, are you creating an advantage over others when developing products? What are your plans regarding product diversity?
Arifur and Jullian: Yes, it’s a major shift from traditional 100% cotton offerings. We’re creating a new segment, and pricing has become a fresh area of discussion for customers. We plan to introduce various wool blends into the market. As Julian mentioned, we’ll be supplying different fabric constructions with wool blends, opening doors into categories like sportswear and outerwear. At NR, we’re fortunate to have a wide range of equipment—from 10-gauge to 40-gauge machines, covering single jersey, double jersey, and jacquard capabilities. Few manufacturers globally, even in the traditional wool sector, have access to such equipment.
There are really no limits to what we can produce. If necessary, we can import yarns from Vietnam or India for traditional wool products. But more importantly, we can achieve blends with up to 50–60% wool content using modified cotton spinning systems. This lets us create unique blends with lyocell, traceable cotton from Good Earth and FibreTrace, and regenerative cotton from the US. Just recently, we developed a wool–linen–Tencel blend yarn. With our advanced equipment, the possibilities are endless—and we’re excited to bring these innovative blends to a much broader, more affordable market.
Textile Focus: How can Woolmark help you on your journey?
Jullian: We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Woolmark in Australia. In fact, Arif and I first met on a farm there. Woolmark has consistently supported ABMT with innovation projects, brand introductions, and testing. Going forward, our products will carry Woolmark certification. This not only assures customers of our high-quality standards but also provides the added strength of the Woolmark logo. And because Woolmark has global expertise in processing, we can draw on their network of specialists whenever we face production challenges.
Textile Focus: How many brands are involved in Woolmark?
Azeezur Rahman Khan (Woolmark): The Woolmark brand is one of the world’s most recognized textile certification marks. Today, more than 600 companies around the world are Woolmark licensees, and since 1964 over six billion products have carried the Woolmark logo. This global network includes some of the most respected names in fashion and performance wear, and it continues to grow. In Bangladesh, the network is still at an early stage, but partnerships like ABMT–NR Group show how quickly the potential can be realized. By participating in this global system, Bangladesh is now able to move beyond supplying cotton alone and position itself as a credible source of value-added wool products for international buyers.
Textile Focus: How does Woolmark support Bangladeshi textile companies in producing value-added yarns and fabrics?
Azeezur Rahman Khan (Woolmark): Woolmark’s role here is both technical and commercial. On the technical side, we provide guidance and training on wool processing—whether it’s dyeing, spinning, knitting, or finishing—and we give companies access to our global testing and R&D facilities so they can meet the quality standards expected by international markets. At the same time, our certification assures global buyers that Bangladeshi yarns, fabrics, and garments meet the same benchmarks as products made anywhere else in the world. On the commercial side, we actively connect local partners with international brands and retailers who already source Woolmark-certified products, creating direct export opportunities. And through our innovation projects, we’re helping Bangladeshi mills and garment makers experiment with new blends—wool with cotton, linen, or Tencel—that open the door to categories like sportswear, outerwear, and premium knitwear. The aim is clear: to help Bangladesh evolve from a cotton-dominant base into a hub for differentiated, higher-value wool and wool-blend products that strengthen its position in the global RMG market.
