Ranking among the world’s top 10 firms in premium denim fabric production, Çalık Denim marks its 30th anniversary this year. Allocating an annual R&D budget, Çalık Denim develops innovative products while it ranks among the top three firms that contribute in Turkey’s success in achieving 50 percent of value added denim fabric production in the world with a capacity of 42 million meters.
At the press conference held to mark the company’s 30th anniversary, Çalık Denim General Manager Hamit Yenici, shared information on the denim market in the world and in Turkey and noted that they were among Turkey’s top 200 exporters: “Over the last 7 years, we boosted our capacity with an investment of USD 120 million, and we are currently among the world’s top 10 premium denim manufacturers. Capitalizing on our 30 years’ experience and commercial know-how, we are directly exporting to more than 40 countries, and particularly to our priority markets in Europe and America.”
Underlining their plans to boost their capacity to 60 million meters with an additional investment of USD 120 million in the 2018-2021 period, Yenici said: “In parallel to this, we are planning to boost our global market share of 5 percent in the value added and innovative product range in 2016 to 10 percent in 2020. Our efforts are fast underway to achieve this.”
Noting that Çalık Denim had boosted its brand recognition in the world market with every passing year thanks to its regular investments in its R&D resources, innovative approaches, and new collections, Yenici explained how the denim industry moved together with fashion and technology and emphasized on the importance of R&D investments. He added: “Since the day our company was founded, we have worked in line with the belief of adding value to our work. We have strived to constantly develop ourselves and offer products in world standards. Where we stand today, this not only makes us proud but also encourages us to go even further. As we leave behind our 30th anniversary we combine our heritage with our ‘Constant Development’ approach and work with all our strength in order to ensure that our success in the markets in which we operate lasts.”
We have the seventh largest R&D center in the Turkish textile industry and will continue to develop through our R&D efforts in line with our vision. We always make our biggest investments in technology and innovation with a view to maintaining our presence in the industry as a denim fabric manufacturer in the premium segment and becoming the solution partner of our customers with our innovative structure. From a numerical perspective, we allocated nearly 2 percent of our turnover to our R&D investments. We don’t keep our research at our R&D center confined solely to denim or fabric. At our center, which has more than sixty engineers, we conduct research on “Advanced Textile Products.” This research does not focus solely on denim or fabrics. We are engaged in efforts across a much broader area on nano-technology, smart fabrics, and different functional features.
Denim Loves Art exhibition with 30 young designers on our 30th anniversary
Hamit Yenici also talked about the “Denim Loves Art Exhibition”, which was inspired by the ability to use denim in different disciplines, noting that they had launched a project that supports 30 young international designers on their 30th anniversary in accordance with Çalık Denim’s perception as a young, dynamic, productive, and experienced brand in its prime, who is passionate about denim. Yenici said: “On our 30th anniversary, we created the ‘Denim Loves Art’ exhibition with the works of 30 international young designers. We delivered a call to students from the «design» and «interior architecture» departments of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions including Parsons, Amsterdam of Fashion, The Fashion Institute of Design& Merchandising, Central St. Martin, Edinburg University, Citadella Artistic School and İstanbul Fashion Academy, Mimar Sinan University. The participants selected by an international jury designed a host of products including furniture, accessories, shoes, bags, and rugs as well as clothing articles in order to underline denim’s presence across all areas of our lives.”
Denim Loves Art designs made its debut in İstanbul and will be displayed in Amsterdam on 25 October and in Los Angeles on 6 December as a part of the 30th anniversary events.
Collaboration with world-renowned brands
Created as a result of unique works that boost Çalık Denim’s brand image in the value added products category, the collections are used in the most sought-after collections in the ready-wear market throughout the year.
Çalık Denim currently works with the world’s leading brands. It manufactures for global and Turkish brands including Acne, Ann Taylor, Armani Jeans, Benetton, Calvin Klein, Celio, Citizens of Humanity, Colins, Diesel, Frame, GAP, G-Star, Guess, H&M, Hugo Boss, Jack&Jones, Kuyichi, LTB, Liu Jo, Mark&Spencer, Mavi, Mother, Pepe Jeans, Ralph Lauren, Replay, River Island, Scotch&Soda, Tommy Hilfiger, Top Shop and Zara.