Mills Update: Latin American Manufacturers on Their Approach to Authentic Denim
In the first months of 2026, supply chains had to contend with cost pressures and geopolitical turmoil.
As we head into the second half of the year, Carved in Blue is checking in with denim mills around the globe to get their take on the outlook for the rest of 2026. Here, executives from Cone Denim, Global Denim and Vicunha share what buyers are seeking, collection highlights and where they see the market headed.
CONE DENIM
Kevin Reardon, SVP commercial strategy
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Kevin: Comfort, authenticity, dimension.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Kevin: Refined Rebel is one of our standout concepts for the season. It introduces denim fabrics that bridge the gap between refined and approachable. These fabrics were designed to transition effortlessly from workday to weekend. Rooted in authenticity—2×1 twills, tweed-like textures, and soft plush hand—this capsule offers denim that brings an element of newness without constraining it to be too novel.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Kevin: We are feeling optimistic. There is significant momentum building in the denim sector. The opportunities emerging in North America, especially in Mexico, indicate that the market is poised for growth. Denim continues to demonstrate its resilience, and brands are embracing this with confidence. For us, the focus in the second half is on expansion—strengthening existing relationships and exploring new markets that are aligned with the value we offer.
GLOBAL DENIM
Anatt Finkler, creative director
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Anatt: Value-driven, price-oriented buying.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Anatt: Our most outstanding story for Fall/Winter 2027-28 centers around comfort stretch, 99 percent cotton, 1 percent Lycra compositions. We’re going back to the core: keeping it simple in fiber content but delivering interesting aesthetics, from heritage and old Americana-inspired fabrics to vintage constructions and modern slub and texture developments. Just enough stretch to deliver comfort and softness without going too high and yet versatile enough to accommodate different fits and styles across different categories.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Anatt: The outlook for the second half of the year looks challenging. Markets haven’t reacted and fully absorbed the instability brought by geopolitical tensions and broader macro uncertainty. On top of that, rising raw material costs have driven price hikes across the entire supply chain. We remain assertive but cautious as we watch how the market develops in the coming months.
VICUNHA
German Silva, executive director
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
German: Buyers are looking for premium denim with authentic character, richer indigo shades, refined textures and fabrics that age beautifully while offering everyday comfort. They want versatility, combining sophisticated finishes, subtle visual effects and modern performance without sacrificing denim’s heritage.
Sustainability with traceability, responsible materials and fabrics that deliver both lasting quality and lower environmental impact.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
German: Sustainable blends are at the heart of our latest launch, Malva—where authentic denim meets the future of nature.
As consumers seek products with greater purpose and deeper connections, denim is evolving beyond performance and recycled content. The next generation of premium denim is defined by materials that tell a genuine story. Rooted in nature, craftsmanship and responsible innovation, Vicunha introduces Malva, our newest denim innovation.
Crafted with natural Amazonian Malva fiber, this collection combines the timeless character of authentic denim with one of the world’s most remarkable natural resources. The result is a fabric that delivers rich texture, visual depth and a unique hand feel while carrying a powerful story of environmental and social responsibility.
Malva is cultivated by riverside communities in the Amazon following the natural rhythm of the rivers without deforestation, artificial irrigation, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Every fiber reflects a production model that respects biodiversity, supports local communities and preserves traditional knowledge passed down through generations.
More than reducing impact, Malva contributes to a regenerative future. The fiber is renewable, biodegradable, naturally captures CO2 during its rapid growth and helps strengthen the Amazon bioeconomy through fair income opportunities for thousands of families. Its significance extends beyond the textile industry.
For Vicunha, Malva represents more than a new fabric. It represents a new chapter for premium denim.
Cotton and TENCEL™ fiber blends bring together natural comfort, fluid drape and a refined hand feel, offering a contemporary approach to premium denim.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
German: The global denim supply chain is evolving beyond its traditional focus on domestic markets toward a more diversified and geographically balanced sourcing model. Today, success means being global while working locally, understanding each brand’s identity and supporting its unique vision.
As brands diversify their sourcing strategies and seek more resilient, vertically integrated supply chains through nearshoring, countries with strong denim ecosystems are becoming increasingly attractive. They offer a combination of manufacturing expertise, creativity, flexibility, vertical integration and continuous advances in traceability and lower-impact production.
What we see today is that brands are no longer looking solely for production capacity. They are looking for strategic partners capable of driving innovation, accelerating product development, ensuring transparency and building long-term collaborative relationships.
At Vicunha, we see this shift reflected in the growing demand for collaborative fabric development, premium product innovation and more transparent supply chains. We believe this trend will continue to strengthen Vicunha’s position as a global platform for responsible denim innovation and value-added product development.