Calik Balances Tradition, Tech & Sustainability
The role of a denim mill has evolved far beyond the traditional boundaries of fabric production and sales. Today's most successful mills are not only trend forecasters, sustainability and traceability advisors, and technology innovators but also experts navigating the complex geopolitical challenges impacting the denim supply chain. Calik Denim expertly balances all these roles with professionalism and foresight.
"We are not just supplier of our customers; our solution partner mission maintains our position as a highly preferred business partner," said Serdar Ozcan, Calik's sales director.
These qualities and more come together in Calik's Fall/Winter 2026-2027 called "Interdipendency," a moniker Ozcan said is based on the "invisible network connecting every aspect of life" and how actions "ripple outward, influencing and being influenced by the world around us."
It might seem like a deep philosophy for denim, but it highlights the level of responsibility the Turkish denim mill takes in its decision-making processes. "Calik Denim places respect for people and the planet at the forefront, crafting fabrics designed for well-being, durability, and minimal environmental impact. As fashion evolves, transparency, traceability, and commitments to sustainability are reshaping the industry," Ozcan said.
Examples of this include water-saving indigo and finishing technologies like Dyepro and D-Clear, and Re/J, a commercially successful collection of fabrics made from 100 percent recycled materials. This concept has garnered significant industry attention over several seasons, arriving at a pivotal moment when brands are placing greater emphasis on product longevity and embracing circular design principles.
"We see many customers who place sustainability at the core of their vision and consider it indispensable," he said.
Calik remains bullish about B210, the R&D output that provides the opportunity to increase the amount of man-made fibers in order to produce high-performance denim fabrics that result in more than 99 percent biodegradability. Though the trend toward rigid and cellulosic fiber-based fabrics has allocated less space for B210 in Calik's collections, from a broader perspective, Ozcan said this is a positive development in terms of sustainability.
"If, at some point, the trend shifts back towards high-elasticity and high-performance fabrics, we will be ready to make products biodegradable again using our B210 technology," he said, adding that it still is available and can be applied to all synthetic fiber fabrics. "This is a great added value that can crown our customers' sustainability journeys both in business processes and communication."
Fashion in focus
In addition to sustainability, the F/W 26-27 collection considers several important market trends that are affecting the wide variety of brands Calik works with.
Calik sees a reinvention of denim luxury and premium denim with a distinctive twill look. Design-wise, Ozcan said trends are moving toward denim with a shiny and draped appearance-a look that will attract the attention of luxury fashion brands and will make them want to maximize denim in their collections. To meet this demand, Calik's new Leisure Luxe collection offers fabrics that combine man-made fiber with special cotton combination resulting in a balance of softness and "tailored comfort," he said.
Workwear-inspired fashion remains a bright spot in the denim category as well. With Worktive, Calik adds a stylish to workwear with ready-to-dye herringbone fabrics and canvas made with recycled polyester.
Established product lines like Denovated, Fix-Fit, Maxymove and Rawtech, which eliminates the need for industrial washing, return with updates that suit the season like heavier weights and richer colors. Calik is also integrating graphene into fabrics to enhance their antibacterial and anti-odor properties, which enables fewer home washings, allowing for less energy and water consumption. Additionally, Ozcan noted how graphene provides high abrasion resistance and thermal regulation. "In this way, we offer a product that is both high-performance and sustainable," he said.
As high elastic and high-performance athleisure wear products have become trendy, Calik sees trends are returning to denim's origins. Trends are shifting back to denim's roots, driving Calik to develop concepts that balance tradition and wearability. "As the consumers are more aware of sustainability and durability, untreated denim with natural fading potential has become more popular with more wide leg or bootcut type of fits," he said.
Ozcan said demand for fabrics made with 100 percent cotton is significantly higher than in the past, underscoring the unrelenting popularity of vintage denim. Calik's new Roots Age collection captures the essence of heritage denim with rigid and comfort stretch fabrics inspired by the California Gold Rush. Some also include linen . "Roots Age is loomstate, original denim-unprocessed and raw-which provides a truly vintage-inspired look with its naturally hairy, ultra-nappy texture," he said. It's the type of fabric that denim heads gravitate to.
In general, Ozcan said denim from 1950s and 1960s is influencing fashion with its authenticity, craftsmanship, heavy weight strong constructions, neppy and hairy surfaces , selvedge and raw look ideas which their dark indigo blue color becomes fresher and brighter as it ages.
"But as we always say, trends repeat themselves over the years. The return to the roots of denim and the strong trend of rigid denim looks right now does not mean that there will be no need for high elasticity denim next season. You always need to be prepared; the world is changing very fast and therefore denim too."
Looking ahead
The shifting nature of trade policies in different countries and the lack of stability in these changes poses unique challenges for Calik and its partners as it prepares for the F/W 26-27 season. "Unstable trade policies can make it difficult for both brands and fabric manufacturers to define their production and sales strategies," Ozcan said.
The best Calik's leadership can do during uncertain times is stay plugged into the rapid news cycle, listen to clients and continue to it does best: produce denim.
"The U.S. is currently implementing a tax policy that appears to be political against Mexico, Canada, China and the EU," Ozcan said. "We absolutely do not find it right to implement practices that will negatively affect global trade and that can be described as a tax/trade war because every aggressive decision taken and the use of taxes as a weapon in this way brings with it a retaliatory action from the other side. These political actions have a very negative effect on producers and therefore the country's economy in the long run."
On the other hand, Ozcan said the greatest opportunity for denim is that its appeal never fades. "Denim has a unique spirit in fashion, maintaining its popularity among all age groups globally, from the youngest child to the oldest," he said. "This enduring appeal ensures that the industry always remains dynamic."
This story was published in SJ Denim's spring issue. Click here to read more.
- Denim Dudes: Cultural Currents Shape Fall/Winter 26-27 Denim
- Wool, Jacquards and Tints Drive Newness in Denim
- Hybrid Innovation and Dark Romance Define Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Denim
Post a Comment