S/S ’26 Preview: Warm Weather Influence Denim Mills’ Fabric Collections
Softness, ease of moment and warm weather are guiding the directions many denim mills are taking for their Spring/Summer 2026 fabric collections.
Naveena Denim Mills is focusing on lightweight, compact constructions that provide a soft hand feel. Lightweight Aerolite fabrics boast high moisture, chemical resistance and quick drying capabilities. The fabrics have a hollow structure that promotes airflow.
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Berke Aydemir, Naveena Denim Mills senior general manager of R&D and technical sales, likened a second innovation called Coolwaste to “personal climate control.” The circular fabrics keep the wearer and dry while also offering warmth when needed, he said.
Cone Denim’s Free Flow capsule of lightweight fabrics is designed for warmer climates. The fabrics are ideal for looser silhouettes and denim apparel. Within this group, the mill offers variations on character from polished and smooth to authentic character with dimensional highs and lows.
This season, Cone is focused on marrying authentic character, comfort, and sustainability. “We achieved this by releasing a microcapsule of new products using a circular fiber blend that includes Circulose, Tencel and RCS-certified recycled cotton. The fabrics are soft, have authentic marble character, and are bright, pure indigo cast,” said Pierette Scavuzzo, Cone Denim’s design director.
Other fabrics provide softness and ease achieved from Cone’s internal yarn engineering, which the mill’s 3-D innovation team designed to create a soft hand without the use of alternative fibers. The Blend & Brawn capsule houses cotton-rich fabrics with polyester and nylon cores for superior performance and strength. “This curated collection brings together the best of workwear and western denim, developed for resilience and durability without sacrificing comfort and authenticity,” Scavuzzo said.
Maritas Denim responds to the market’s demand for loose and light fabrics with two new concepts called Hi-fly and Looselight. “We experienced the hottest summer with all-time high degrees in 2024. Climate is changing extremely fast. Our collections should be adaptable to the climate by their materials and designs,” said Gizem Yasar, Maritas Denim’s marketing chief.
Sapphire Finishing Mills said it offers lightweight yet durable fabrics with a soft, luxurious hand feel. “We’ve constructed the collection to deliver breathability and versatility, ideal for the warmer seasons,” said Jaffar Ali, Sapphire Finishing Mills’ manager of digital marketing and communications.
The mill is blending natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and Tencel with sustainable synthetics to balance comfort, durability, and sustainability.
SM Denim emphasizes lightweight, breathable constructions for comfort in warmer weather. Mochiri, a left-hand twill fabric, boasts durability as well as a soft touch and a broken-in feel. Moisture-wicking properties and UV protection are key. “These will feature enhanced stretch and recovery, perfect for athleisure and everyday wear. Some of our fabrics also include anti-microbial finishes and temperature-regulating properties, making them ideal for an active lifestyle,” the mill stated.
Instead of relying on lyocell or rayon or finishing processes to achieve softness, Tat-Fung uses Silk Spun technology, an in-house innovation, to build it directly into the spinning process. “Silk Spun ensures the softness won’t fade over time, all while remaining fully compatible with cotton,” said Tim Huesemann, the mill’s sales director.
Weather conditions are top of mind for DNM Denim. Lightweight fabrics have the appearance of heavier, authentic denim, while rigid, vintage-style fabrics offer comfort even in hot temperatures, said Zuhal Karacayir, DNM’s marketing assistant. DNM offers a wide range of colors and constructions of drapey fabrics with a smooth finish as well.
Crescent Bahuman is keeping denim cool with two new technologies. The new Aerolite collection offers fabrics ranging from 6 oz. to 11.25 oz. with a strong focus on super soft feel. The mill has also developed Brass finish, designed to enhance moisture-wicking capabilities, making fabrics breathable and ideal for active lifestyles.
Soft focus
US Group offers fabrics that have soft, open-end yarns for a more relaxed, comfortable feel. The mill achieves summery shades a soft handle through blended fibers like Tencel and innovative construction techniques.
Lenzing’s Ecovero fibers add sustainability to Evlox’s line of soft fabrics. The fibers are derived from sustainably managed and certified renewable wood pulp.
“This eco-friendly option not only reduces environmental impact but also consumes at least 50 percent less water and emits 50 percent less CO2 compared to conventional viscose, as reported by the Higg MSI. These fabrics offer exceptional softness and stretch, and their left-hand weave further enhances their gentle feel,” said Francisco Ortega, Evlox’s R&D manager.
Bossa’s focus is on creating unique blends that highlight the best of its heritage. “Our new collections feature a sophisticated mix of recycled linen, natural brown cotton, and Tencel lyocell, resulting in fabrics that are not only visually stunning but also offer an exceptional hand feel. As brands seek to streamline their manufacturing processes and reduce manual labor, we’re delivering materials that arrive factory-ready with special finishes like coatings, tints, and overdyes—minimizing production time while maximizing aesthetic appeal,” said Jordan Nodarse, Bossa design consultant.
The high-end market is on Bossa’s radar. The Turkish mill addresses the demand for luxury denim with new Cupro blends. Nodarse said the fabric range is a “cut above the rest, combining a silky, luxurious hand feel with a distinctive appearance that sets them apart in the market.”
“Cupro’s natural breathability and soft drape make it a perfect choice for high-end collections, offering comfort and style,” he added.
Isko is focused on advancing construction and hand feel. Isko Multitouch is a new collection that delivers multiple textures and finishes from a single fabric, allowing brands to select between super-soft and firmer handles simply by adjusting laundry and finishing techniques. The fabric enables 3D effects such as whiskers and cracked textures without chemicals or resins.
Isko’s Revotec technology is another highlight, according to Mirela Slowik, Isko’s category leader. “It gives an exceptionally soft hand feel to fabrics without the use of cotton. On top of that, it has an 85-90 percent reduction in water usage compared to traditional methods, making it a breakthrough in sustainable fabric manufacturing,” she said.
AGI Denim’s Soft Serve collection features some of the mill’s “most indulgent, comfort-driven fabrics.” The Pakistan mill achieves this level of softness without sacrificing durability and true denim character. “If there’s one collection I’d urge denim creatives to experience firsthand, it’s this one. The Soft Serve fabrics offer something truly special that you [must] feel to fully appreciate,” said Henry Wong, AGI Denim’s VP, product development and marketing.
Cloud Core is Siddiqson’s solution for fabrics with an elevated hand feel. Spanning rigid to super stretch constructions, the popular collection marries vintage-inspired visuals with modern comfort. The mill is expanding it for S/S ’26 to include additional articles with enhanced performance and unique effects.
“Our Cloud core collection offers a contemporary evolution of the classic 501 look but with an exceptional hand feel and a drape, refined aesthetic,” said Ampelio Dal Lago, Siddiqson’s head of research and development. “We are excited to push the boundaries further, one of the most revolutionary ideas we’re implementing is the incorporation of indigo-dyed wefts into our fabrics. This innovative approach not only enhances the visual appeal with rich, dynamic colors but also adds depth and character to each article.”
Stretch science
Soorty approaches constructions from different angles to ensure the vertically integrated denim manufacturer has a diverse range of options for its brand partners. For those seeking durability, Soorty’s Workwear collection offers 2×1 and 3×1 right-hand twill weaves. The Textural group offers a tactile and visual experience through weave designs like herringbone, dobby, and ripstop that enhance denim’s texture and appearance.
With Flexible Friends, Soorty shows bi-stretch fabrics that maintain an authentic denim look, available with heavy, mid, or subtle slub patterns.
“We also have a range of fabrics with linen content, adding an organic touch and natural texture as well as strength in ecrus, blacks, and indigos. Another highlight is our concept dedicated to true comfort… The ultra-soft hand feel is achieved through left-hand twill constructions and blends of premium yarns, offering styles that range from clean, classic looks to more pronounced, textured slubs,” said Eda Dikmen, Soorty senior marketing and communications manager.
Stretch is a key part of Advance Denim’s collection. The mill’s newest innovation is Cotton Fit, a fabric made entirely with long staple, super soft cotton but it has the flexibility of comfort stretch. Advance achieves this by using a unique construction, which Mark Ix, Advance Denim director of North American marketing, said is perfect for wide-leg silhouettes.
The mill is also expanding its range of fabrics made with The Lycra Company’s Fitsense technology which enables denim designers to customize stretch levels to enhance comfort and shaping in targeted areas. The technology was introduced in April.
“Fitsense is a mixture of fiber technology and enhanced fabric construction along with innovative garment finishing that creates variable stretch zones that provide performance without changing the look or feel of true vintage-inspired constructions,” Ix said.
In addition to 100 percent cotton fabrics and the reintroduction of linen sourced from France-based Safilin, Orta is exploring the possibilities of denim made with bio-derived Lycra from The Lycra Company.
For S/S ’26, the Turkish mill debuts a capsule using regenerative cotton and Qira, a next-gen butanediol (BDO) made from renewable U.S.-grown field corn instead of fossil-based materials. Developed with Qore, the bio-derived Lycra is the world’s first renewable spandex available on a large scale.
The fiber enables Orta to achieve long-lasting, good-quality fabrics made with responsible materials, said Sebla Onder, Orta’s marketing and sustainability manager. She added that the fabrics have high stretch levels and are equal in quality and durability to conventional denim.
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