Calik Denim has built its Spring/Summer 2028 range around fabric technologies that hide stretch and softness inside authentic-looking rigid denim, while scaling production-side measures that cut water, chemicals and energy at the mill.

The Turkish denim mill frames the collection under a theme it calls Second Nature. General manager Eray Karaduman said the commercial tension driving development is clear: buyers want authentic denim character without losing comfort.

"One of the most interesting tensions in denim right now is that consumers want authenticity back, but they are not willing to give up the performance and comfort they have become accustomed to," Karaduman said.

Which fabric platforms carry the S/S 28 offer?

The mill's answer runs through three named fabric families:

• D'enovated — contemporary constructions, comfort stretch and a wide indigo shade range applied to authentic-looking denim. Karaduman said: "We are interested in hiding performance inside authenticity."
• Retro Soft — distinct twill structures combined with eco-soft technologies and natural fibres, with a strong focus on cellulosics, targeting fluidity, breathability and soft hand.
• True Fit and Fix-Fit — structural-memory and recovery concepts aimed at the shift toward cleaner, more tailored silhouettes. Fix-Fit uses Lycra Dual-FX technology for controlled stretch and lasting shape retention.

Karaduman said rigid fabrics can now carry memory, softness can coexist with pronounced twill character, and colour can become part of a fabric's structural identity. The takeaway: mills are selling multiple definitions of performance, not one.

What sits behind the sustainability claims?

Calik anchors its compliance position in measurable process technologies rather than seasonal claims. The most concrete is Revo-Su, a dyeing system the mill said reduces water consumption to one-eighth of conventional dyeing processes while significantly cutting chemical use.

Water is an operational priority, not only an environmental one. "Denim is traditionally a water-intensive industry, and operating in a geography exposed to water stress makes reducing water dependency both an environmental and an operational priority," Karaduman said.

Product-level technologies target end-of-life and use-phase impacts:

• B210 — delivers over 99 percent biodegradability within 210 days, addressing post-use environmental impact through accelerated biodegradation.
• Selfsized — an all-in-one fit concept designed to help retail brands cut size-related returns, avoiding the transport, handling and resource use tied to returned goods.
• True Fit — shape retention that reduces deformation over time and can cut washing frequency, lowering water, chemical and energy use in the garment's use phase.

On energy, approximately 45 percent of Calik's production runs on its solar power plant. A new biomass-based energy investment comes online in 2027, which Karaduman said will further reduce natural gas consumption.

The compliance takeaway: buyers auditing Turkish denim suppliers should trace claims to these named technologies and the 2027 biomass timeline.

How is the mill reading market direction?

Calik sells across Europe, Asia and the United States, and for S/S 28 it pushed regional sales-team intelligence directly into product development. Karaduman said customers signal where brands see whitespace and how expectations on authenticity, stretch, softness, responsible materials and price-value are shifting.

Silhouette direction is changing. "We believe the denim market is moving away from the idea that one silhouette needs to dominate an entire season," Karaduman said. Wide and relaxed fits remain relevant, but after several seasons of extreme volume, the mill sees room for straighter silhouettes, tapered shapes and cleaner, more tailored interpretations.

That shift changes fabric requirements. When silhouettes get cleaner and more precise, recovery, structure and shape retention matter more — the technical case for True Fit and Fix-Fit.

Karaduman also noted authentic denim character is regaining ground after a long stretch-dominated period. "Defined twills, visible construction, firm hands and fabrics that actually look and feel like denim are becoming increasingly important," he said. The mill does not expect a return to uncomfortable denim; the opportunity is combining authentic visual cues with invisible performance.

Calik continues to run R&D collaborations with universities and industrial partners, on the grounds that meaningful innovation increasingly requires knowledge from outside traditional textile development.

For sourcing teams, the decision the news forces is straightforward: S/S 28 denim programmes can specify authentic-look fabrics with embedded recovery and biodegradability credentials, and audit Calik's water and energy claims against Revo-Su, B210 and the 45 percent solar figure.