Mills Update: Türkiye Textile Makers Give Their Take on the Market
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 DNM, Iskur and Maritaş share what buyers are seeking, collection highlights and where they see the market headed.
DNM
Sedat Süalp, deputy general manager
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Sedat: Inspiration, user-friendly and functional solutions, and trust and reliability.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Sedat: For Fall/Winter 2027-28, one of our standout concepts is Nature Spectrum. By moving beyond the classic boundaries of indigo, DNM is introducing a nature-inspired, color-focused design language that brings a balanced and holistic perspective to our fabrics.
Nature Spectrum, with a nature-inspired color palette, combined with softened transitions, brings a more balanced and holistic perspective to denim. In this phase, DNM pushes beyond the boundaries of indigo, redefining its relationship with color. This marks the brand’s first exploration of colored denim at this scale—an evolution that is not only technical but also a creative expansion.
With this, we are moving beyond indigo with a nature-inspired approach, a color-focused design language and a fresh and modern expression beyond classic indigo. This concept is compatible with relaxed, clean and modern silhouettes that highlight color and simplicity.
Through this approach, Nature Spectrum becomes more than a color expansion; it stands as a final expression of connection with nature, simplicity and balance reinterpreted through denim.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Sedat: We believe the second half of 2026 will continue to present challenges, but also create opportunities for companies that can adapt quickly. Egypt’s competitive advantages—including its strategic location, logistics capabilities, growing manufacturing investments and skilled workforce—are expected to strengthen further. As a Turkish company with production in Egypt, we see this as a significant advantage for both our business and our customers.
Sustainability is no longer a differentiator in the denim industry—it is a fundamental requirement. We will continue investing in sustainable materials, innovative production techniques, and responsible manufacturing processes to meet both customer expectations and evolving industry standards.
At the same time, we will place even greater emphasis on our close collaboration with brands. Through one-on-one inspiration sessions, wash development, color innovation and product design, we aim to understand our customers’ needs at the earliest stage and respond with the most efficient, creative and fastest solutions possible. We believe this customer-focused and agile approach will continue to be one of our key strengths in the second half of the year.
ISKUR
Ismail Kurtul, board member
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Ismail: Verified sustainability, storytelling value and supply chain resilience. Buyers today don’t just want eco-friendly claims; they want proof. Certifications, traceability, data on water and energy saved, and beyond that, fabrics that have marketing narrative, fabrics with stories. Not only price, but also tariff uncertainty and geopolitical volatility became an important point.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Ismail: Our hero story is fabric made in Iskur Ecosystem by using bio and organic raw materials: cotton grown on our own 2.5 million-square-meter agricultural land, spun in our first-of-its-kind in Türkiye dark yarn factory, which most robots are working in.
Dyes with bio indigo with our low water indigo process—bio indigo solves a big problem for brands, which is anti-yellowing under sunlight and shop light. We make woven and finished goods in our own facility, with post- and pre-consumer recycled cotton in our own recycling unit. It is not a sourcing story—every meter has fully traceable origin and carbon and water footprint data are clear.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Ismail: Cautiously optimistic with Türkiye positioned to benefit. Brands are building dual-sourcing strategies and Türkiye’s speed to market and sustainability are big advantages, especially for fabric sourcing. Brands use AI sizing tools, which means they need more flexibility and shorter development cycles. Iskur’s vertical integration gives us advantage here.
MARITAŞ
Fatih Kesim, general manager
Carved in Blue: Could you sum up what buyers are currently looking for in three words or phrases?
Fatih: Versatility, authenticity and relevance.
Buyers are seeking collections that fit evolving lifestyles, transcend seasonal boundaries and deliver a strong sense of originality. Additionally, in times of high uncertainty, buyers find it increasingly difficult to make purchasing decisions. They tend to prefer brands and suppliers that stand behind their products and offer consistency and reliability. More than ever, they make choices that strengthen their perception of value and give them greater confidence in what they are buying.
Carved in Blue: What is the most outstanding story from your Fall/Winter 2027-28 collection?
Fatih: The strongest story in our AW27-28 collection is Sub-Arctic.
It was developed as a response to changing climate patterns, where autumn is disappearing and winter becomes a longer and more permanent condition. Rather than designing for traditional seasonal moments, we focused on a condition-based approach to denim that allows people to continue their daily lives without interruption.
The collection combines authentic denims with soft insulated constructions such as Polar Plush, alongside our Glitch concept fabrics featuring embedded multi-count slub effects in both warp and weft directions. These fabric developments are brought together within a darker visual language inspired by northern landscapes, translating a colder and less predictable environment into everyday denim solutions.
Carved in Blue: What is your outlook on the denim industry for the second half of the year?
Fatih: In the second half of the year, we expect political uncertainties, rising costs and logistics challenges to continue putting pressure on the entire supply chain.
At the same time, we see a positive shift in denim fashion. The influence of the early 2000s is returning strongly, bringing back more expressive fabric characters, crosshatch effects, flatter surfaces and a wider range of silhouettes. This renewed interest in product character creates new opportunities for innovation and differentiation.
However, we believe the most critical topic for the industry today is strategy. In a rapidly changing market, success will depend not only on creating the right products, but also on building the right collaborations, projects and supply chain partnerships. Brands and manufacturers need to work more closely together, creating ecosystems that strengthen each other and generate long-term value.
The companies that combine strong product development with clear strategic direction will be the ones best positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture future growth.