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 Gamatex, Kaihara, Shinohara, TCE and XDD share what buyers are seeking, collection highlights and where they see the market headed. This article is one of a series on SJ Denim from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.