What if your favorite team’s jersey wasn’t shipped from abroad? What if it said, “Made in Bangladesh”? That’s the idea driving DOUR, a homegrown sportswear brand launched in January 2020.
The story began years earlier when Abid Alam Chowdhury, now DOUR’s CEO, was a student in the UK. Friends often asked him to bring back branded sportswear. Even he noticed how many Bangladeshis relied on others to carry gear from overseas. That sparked a thought: why not build a sportswear brand right here at home?
He returned to Bangladesh in 2018. Unlike most who just talk about ideas, he rolled up his sleeves. He had access to machines, fabrics, and workers. With that base, he experimented with design, colors, and fabric blends.
Of course, big plans tend to stall. Abid realized he was overthinking. “At one point, I decided to just take a chance,” he said. DOUR had a soft launch in 2019 before officially stepping onto the scene in 2020.
Abid still handles much of the work himself. He sketches ideas, digs online for inspiration, and tests samples until they meet his standard. He’s firm on one thing: sportswear must perform. “Looks don’t matter if it fails in the gym,” he explained. He pushed through rounds of trial and error. Fabric testing became routine before releasing any product.
Today, all DOUR gear is made in the Gazipur factory, though the brand runs independently. Except for polyester, most raw materials come from local suppliers. That’s not just practical, it’s a statement of faith in local industry. Even non-buyers cheer the effort, often sharing feedback and advice.
The biggest win came this year. On February 11, 2025, DOUR signed a two-year deal with the Bangladesh Football Federation. They’ll supply kits for men’s and women’s national teams, senior and junior. Imagine that–players running the pitch in gear stitched at home, not shipped from abroad.
BFF had options, including two global giants. But they chose DOUR. Why? Pride. A “Made in Bangladesh” jersey carried more meaning than a foreign logo. Abid was thrilled. “A Bangladeshi-origin designer is working on the jerseys. They’ll reflect our heritage,” he shared.
The deal isn’t just symbolic. BFF expects it to boost sales of national jerseys, especially with Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury donning Bangladesh colors. Picture fans in Dhaka, London, or New York grabbing those kits–it’s a powerful image.
But DOUR’s goal goes beyond jerseys. They see themselves as a movement. The brand backs young athletes, sponsors tournaments, and encourages everyday fitness. Their bigger dream? To become South Asia’s leading sportswear name. Why shouldn’t “Made in Bangladesh” labels hang in gyms across the region?
DOUR began as one student’s hunch in a foreign city. Today, it’s gearing up to dress a nation. Quality, pride, and ambition–that’s the fabric holding it all together.
