No to outsourcing as Blåkläder expands in Bangladesh
Blåkläder’s Chair of the Board, Amanda Düsing, describes the company as “a being of its own”, whose footprint she is determined to take full responsibility for. When Blåkläder built a new factory in Bangladesh – with SEB as the financier – control over the value chain was a guiding principle.
Workwear manufacturer Blåkläder was founded in 1959 in Svenljunga, Sweden, and has remained a family-owned company ever since. Even as a child, Amanda Düsing accompanied her father to factories in Sri Lanka and Vietnam and experienced the operations first-hand.
“Blåkläder has always been like a family member and, in a way, a being of its own. Something that should be allowed to grow and become bigger than any one of us.”
Today, Amanda is Chair of the Board – and the company is in a phase characterized by “global leadership ambition and industrial development.”
“We’re continuing the journey towards becoming the European leader, while building industrial capacity for the next generation – something our investment in Bangladesh clearly demonstrates.”
We will return to Bangladesh shortly. But first, let’s examine Amanda’s view of accountability a little closer.
Insourcing strengthens value-chain control
As a manufacturer of premium-segment workwear, sustainability is a natural part of the company’s identity, according to Amanda Düsing. But product longevity is not the entire story. One point she repeatedly emphasizes is the importance of taking control of the value chain.
“I don’t like outsourcing; I much prefer insourcing. Today, virtually all manufacturing of our clothing and footwear takes place in our own factories, where we can take responsibility all the way to the finished product.”
At the same time, Amanda believes the sustainability discussion in the apparel industry often becomes overly simplified. In her view, certain eco-labels and “green” materials contribute to greenwashing by focusing on marginal parts of the sustainability work.
“I feel the conversation becomes skewed and think it’s important to dare say so.”
New LEED Platinum-certified factory in Bangladesh
Speaking of control over the value chain: Today Blåkläder owns eight factories in Southeast Asia. The latest addition is a factory in Bangladesh that began operations in
2025. It has achieved LEED Platinum certification, which entails stringent requirements for everything from energy consumption and water use to the working environment.
“From day one, we’ve aimed for the most sustainable production possible. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved”, says Amanda Düsing.
As its banking and financing partner, Blåkläder has chosen SEB.
“SEB has shown curiosity, international expertise, and a local presence – exactly what we need as a global industrial company”, says Amanda, and continues:
“For us, it’s not just about financing, but about having a bank that understands our vision. The fact that SEB has come to know our business means they can support us even when we invest in more complex and riskier markets.”
When the new factory in Bangladesh reaches full capacity, 98 percent of Blåkläder’s manufacturing of workwear and footwear will take place in-house – fully in line with the company’s long-term strategy and view of accountability.