Apparel Industry Sees Higher Costs in Wake of Bangladesh Tragedy

The aftermath of the April garment factory collapse in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,100 has apparel executives eying higher clothing costs next year.

Apparel unit costs look to increase at a low-single-digit rate next year, after a decline since 2012, according to a Cowen & Co. survey of 15 executives and agents that handle apparel sourcing for retailers and brand manufacturers. More than two-thirds of the survey respondents see higher apparel costs next year, with 20 percent of them expecting costs to even increase at a high-single-digit rate.