Made in Bangladesh: ArtNature’s customised wigs head to Japan, Singapore

The factory floor of ArtNature Bangladesh in the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj, resembles that of a garment unit. But ArtNature's speciality is different. Some 200 employees on the floor here produce advanced-quality wigs that customers can customise as per their needs and choice.

The company operates sales centres in Japan and Singapore. Customers visit these centres and have their heads 3D scanned. Based on the scan, customised wigs are produced according to the customer's head size, shape and preferred colour.

Infograph: TBS

Using modern technology and the meticulous craftsmanship of trained workers, the Japanese-invested factory of ArtNature Bangladesh Limited manufactures its wigs to international standards and is now exporting to developed markets such as Japan and Singapore.

Producing a single wig here requires passing through seven to eight stages. Workers and officials said it takes a worker approximately two to three months to complete the process of attaching hair to the base of a wig.

The facility at the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, also known as Japanese Economic Zone, spans around 4.94 acres and currently employs nearly 300 workers.

Around 200 employees, the majority of them women, were seen working attentively on a production floor during a recent visit. Some were individually attaching hair strands to wigs, others were sewing, while others were preparing frames.

In several rooms, employees were also engaged in research-related work using laptop computers.

Chiharu Tagawa, managing director of the economic zone, said three companies are currently manufacturing products there – ArtNature being one of them.

According to the company, ArtNature has already invested $14.40 million in Bangladesh and plans to invest an additional $2 million this year. The company specialises in high-quality wigs and hair-care products, serving adults seeking delicate beauty solutions.

Sanjida Akter, an employee at the factory, said: "We received around six months of training initially. Now we perform highly detailed work. Every handmade wig requires both time and care. The working environment here is good."

Another employee, Murad Hossain, said he receives higher wages at the economic zone factory than at many outside companies.

The company said its technology-driven production system is enabling the manufacture of high-quality wigs that have already gained strong acceptance in international markets. These wigs are particularly important for cancer patients and people experiencing hair loss.

Factory General Manager Md Tanvir Rahman told The Business Standard, "We are currently manufacturing only hair wigs and operating as a 100% export-oriented company. At present, we are planning to expand into raw fibre processing in the future."

He said, "There is already a market for ready-made wigs in Bangladesh. However, ArtNature specialises in customised hair wigs, meaning each wig is individually designed according to specific customer requirements. This customised-wig segment has not yet become an established market in Bangladesh."

Tanvir added, "We are now planning to expand into Europe and the United States."

The single-storey, shed-style factory reflects Japanese industrial design and workplace discipline. During the visit, more than half of the floor space was found to be vacant. The company plans to use the area to employ around 800 additional workers in the future.

Tanvir said, "We are not finding enough skilled workers to meet our requirements. We are currently recruiting new employees and training them. In the future, we will hire around 800 more workers, and training them will be a major challenge."

The factory has created new employment opportunities, particularly for women. Workers receive international-standard training to improve their skills, productivity and earnings. Trainers from countries including the Philippines are being brought in to provide specialised instruction.

According to information available on several websites, the market price of ArtNature wigs varies depending on the product type. Full wigs generally range from about $570 to $1,780, while premium and custom-made wigs can cost up to $3,750 or more.

Overall, wigs manufactured in Bangladesh are emerging not only as a local industry product but also as a promising export item in the global high-value market.

Hair wig and extension market size

According to Global Market Insights Inc (GMI), the global hair wig and extension market was valued at $7.5 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow to $7.9 billion in 2025 and reach $12.6 billion by 2034.

Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), told TBS, "We are working around each economic zone to support skills development. ArtNature's Japanese investors are taking the lead initially. On the government side, we have launched initiatives to upskill workers. If we can accelerate this process, further progress in this sector will be possible."