Mills Update: European Producers Share What’s Popular with Buyers
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 Candiani, Tejidos Royo and Textil Santanderina share what buyers are seeking, collection highlights and where they see the market headed.
Candiani
Alberto Candiani, owner
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Alberto: Authentic denim featuring heritage aesthetics with a sophisticated hand feel.
Fabrics with coarser yarns in rich, dark indigo shades, which can range from simple rinses to heavily vintage washes.
Comfort stretch competing with pure cotton fabrics for a leading role in the market.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Alberto: Our FW27-28 Cortinacollection embraces bold colors and innovative fiber blends, moving away from the typical darker winter shades. This year, we’re introducing popular green and brown hues alongside traditional dark indigo and black. Our fabrics blend 35 percent wool and 65 percent cotton, featuring Woolmark’s merino wool for enhanced touch and functionality. Wool offers thermal insulation, moisture absorption, odor resistance and shape recovery. We blend the wool fibers with regenerative cotton, having been the first denim producer to adopt the Regenagri standard and obtain Chain of Custody certification in 2021, our commitment to transition to regenerative cotton keeps increasing.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Alberto: I believe the outlook is calm. Quite frankly, the market is still not very active. The geopolitical situation continues to impact consumer purchasing behavior negatively. Additionally, rising energy costs have forced many mills to increase their prices. These factors, along with other critical issues, are causing changes in the supply chain.
Tejidos Royo
Alejandro Ventura Pérez, sales director
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Alejandro: Less impact. More authenticity. Real innovation.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Alejandro: At Tejidos Royo, our FW27–28 collection is defined by one clear message: zero compromise denim.
We are introducing 100 percent recycled fabrics dyed with Dry Indigo, our waterless indigo technology—eliminating water from the dyeing process while preserving the true essence of denim. This is not an alternative solution; it’s a new industry standard.
In parallel, we present next-generation coated fabrics engineered for garment dye, unlocking new creative freedom for brands. These developments allow designers to rethink how denim is colored, finished and commercialized—combining sustainability with flexibility and speed.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Alejandro: The market is shifting from volume to value.
The second half of the year will reward mills and brands that deliver real, measurable innovation—not just claims. Sustainability, cost-efficiency and supply chain flexibility are now deeply interconnected.
Technologies like waterless dyeing and circular raw materials are no longer differentiators—they are becoming the entry point. The real competition will be about who can scale them effectively while still inspiring the consumer.
Textil Santanderina
Laura Torroba, creative director of fashion department
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Laura: I would say that buyers are looking more than ever for authentic fabrics, such as Japanese-inspired collections designed for durable garments that develop a unique patina over time—bringing denim back to its status as a valuable piece meant to last.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Laura: Our new AW27/28 collection is called Raw Tenderness, and it draws its inspiration from nature, both in its wild side and its protective spirit. This collection invites us to return to the essential and to seek an intimate refuge where we can restore ourselves—a space where nature embraces us with tenderness to bring back calm, comfort and balance.
Every detail of this collection has been carefully crafted to convey that embrace, from the combination of deep colors that evoke calm and renewal to the textures that recall landscapes and organic elements. The result is a sensory experience, featuring noble, natural materials that return us to a feeling of authentic and timeless well-being.
More specific, in one of our six capsules Sartorial, we would like to highlight the revival of tailoring through our FW27/28 collection, responding to a demand for more elegant and understated looks. The goal we are pursuing is to make fabrics increasingly more pleasant and gentle on the body, while maintaining a clean and elegant aesthetic. Also within the denim world, where interest in raw denim remains strong.
Priority is given to organic cottons and sustainable compositions compatible with end-of-life garment regulations, along with deep indigo shades complemented by double-dyeing processes to expand the range of washes.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Laura: Regarding the denim industry in the medium term: after being saturated with very low-priced offerings and increasingly less distinctive fabrics, the denim industry is now shifting toward a focus on authenticity and value—something brands must embrace if they want to remain competitive against retail.