PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT    lousmijn van den akker   fabric development   product development   checks&stripes

Because the raw material is there - in abundance - and plays a crucial role in the economy of a poor country like Bangladesh. Because it is the only textile fiber that grows in Bangladesh, while 20 million people are depending on the jute and jute-related industry.
After working for the UN on the development of new jute products and jute fabrics in Calcutta/India during 4 years, I moved to Dhaka/Bangladesh to start working on jute with the Bengal weavers. Of course on a smaller scale, but involving both the jute mills and the handicraft people. The goal was to find out what developments can be done with existing machinery. After working there for 6 years, the result as it is today, is far beyond our expectations when we started.