Mills Update: China Makers on Trending Fits and Fibers
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 Advance Denim, Blue Diamond, Freedom, Panther Denim and Prosperity share what buyers are seeking, collection highlights and where they see the market headed.
ADVANCE DENIM
Mark Ix, marketing director of North America
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Mark: Buyers are still looking for rugged authentic denim looks but prioritizing softer hand feel.
There is also the concept of dimensionality—three-dimensional jacquards with subtle florals.
Also tapered volume looks that incorporate pleated waists darts and wider silhouettes that feel more polished and work appropriate.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Mark: The most outstanding story continues to be refined softness that bridges the gap between true vintage and plush luxury. This could be realized in lighter weight styles that look heavy but are actually soft and light.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Mark: The outlook for the second half of the year is cautiously optimistic, as customers are looking for new fabrics with softness and performance to stand out in a sea of ubiquity.
BLUE DIAMOND
Gary You, vice president of business and product development
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Gary: Faster delivery, lower price, unchanged quality.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Gary: We introduced a better priced collection about a year ago where we went into our collection and focused on our best-selling styles based on character and structure. It was a huge success. To build on this, we will introduce a “never out of stock” inventory collection this coming Fall/Winter 2027-28 season. We narrowed our focus more and updated a few of our bestsellers to give them new life by keeping the same character, but enhancing color, yarn blends (TENCEL™ Lyocell – HV100), hand feel, stretchability, but most importantly, faster delivery times and availability. Another area we are seeing traction is in heavier weight denims. Since we are a heritage mill from the 1960s, we have an extensive archive of denim covering almost 70 years of denim making. Old is new again!
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Gary: We are seeing a new cycle on how denim is perceived. Fits have been safe for many years. The younger generation with the purchasing power is wanting different. We will see more extreme fits, whether it be low-rise skinnies or super oversized baggy. These will determine once again the brands that do these the best. It will not be a one-brand-does-all-well scenario. We are seeing demands in Y2K looks for heavier crosshatch stretch with green cast and also 15 oz non-stretch with heavy uneven slubs. More than fashion trends, there will be a heavy focus on self-identity. POV (point of view) is extremely important to the end client, and denim will be one of their extensions of self-expression.
FREEDOM
Michael Morrell, president and CEO, Europe and Americas
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Michael: Value, movement, heritage and storytelling.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Michael: Soft, wearable, full hand product with novelty and heritage looks.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Michael: Competitively healthy with customers looking for strong value proposition through storytelling and pricing.
PANTHER DENIM
Tim Huesemann, sales director
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Tim: Panther’s authentic denim with natural softness—powered by our Dreamfeel innovation—at a good price is key.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Tim: The spotlight goes to our heritage denim characters and optic details. We’ve successfully developed new slubs and vintage crosshatch textures and woven them into all our key concepts:
Blue OG offers authentic comfort with rigid denim. Hybrid is authentic denim combined with Lenzing’s TENCEL™ Lyocell for a premium hand feel. Stretch Science features Lycra Adaptiv for easy high stretch to Lycra VintageFX, with lasting comfort stretch—plus a new crosshatch dual-core yarn. And of course, our magical Pyjama Denim.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Tim: Our outlook is very promising. We’re about to open the same vertical mill in Cambodia as in China—this will be the first denim and piece-dyed mill in the country.
Alongside this expansion, we’re also seeing strong momentum in new innovations, such as our Japanese-inspired tight-weave Cheenoh (Chino) Denim, which is being well adopted and is planned to roll out to stores toward the end of the year.
Overall, these innovations and updated core character adoptions give us a very confident, positive outlook on our Panther future path.
PROSPERITY
Alberto Guzzetti, European sales director
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Alberto: Novelties, commodities, sustainability.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Alberto: Inner Color Denim: a combination between authentic denim in warp and a special yarn dye weft, which guarantee a real color fade for a completely new concept of modern denim.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Alberto: The denim business is growing, especially given fast-fashion brands, which are upgrading quality and denim appearance and contents together with sustainability.