Carvico Targets Beyond-Beach Markets with 2028 Stretch Fabric TrendBook

Italian stretch fabric specialist Carvico has unveiled a TrendBook for 2028 at MarediModa in Cannes, pushing its warp-knit fabrics beyond beachwear into activewear, ready-to-wear and outerwear. The company is showing the concept at stands 77 and 78 of the Palais des Festivals from 27-29 October 2026.

Entitled Not Just to Seduce, the TrendBook sets out five creative directions: Animalia, Manly, Origami, Ornamenta and Bodycon. Each direction demonstrates how fabrics of different weights, textures and structures can be combined within a single colour palette. Carvico positions colour as the common starting point for merging materials with different technical and aesthetic properties.

The core commercial pitch targets buyers designing across categories. Bodysuits, bikinis and swimsuits are reinterpreted as wardrobe components worn beyond the beach, paired with jackets, shirts, skirts and trousers.

What new fabrics are on offer?

The presentation introduces several new constructions, each aimed at specific garment applications:

• Iseo — a lightweight, warm fabric Carvico describes as "technical cashmere". Originally developed for cycling, it suits lightweight sweatshirts, mid-layers, dresses and contemporary outerwear, with contrasting face and reverse surfaces.
• Sicily — a high-shine satin-effect fabric for swimwear, fitness clothing and lifestyle applications, with drape suitable for shirts and tailoring-inspired details.
• Denver — a compact stretch material with shaping properties for close-fitting cycling and yoga garments, extendable to T-shirts, jackets, trousers, skirts and coats.
• Vuelta — a reversible, warm technical material for sweatshirts and tracksuits.
• Shanghai — a glossy fabric for beachwear, tops and leggings.
• Alabama — a suede-like handle fabric for jackets and trousers.

Further fabrics include Revolutional Sweet, a heavier matte cloth for layered sportswear; Parigi, an ultra-lightweight matte fabric with a powder-like surface for swimwear, sportswear and lingerie; Revolutional Zenit, a structured option offering light compression for pleated and folded constructions; Croisette, a bouclé-like textured fabric; Ibiza, an embossed three-dimensional construction with stretch and subtle transparency; and Vita Touch, an ultra-matte compact fabric with a peach-like handle for fitness, athleisure and decorative details such as collars, borders and pockets.

How does the TrendBook structure its themes?

Animalia draws on the vivid colours of birds, reptiles and amphibians, pairing bright shades with laser cutting and heat setting to create new surface effects and graphic structures. Manly applies traditional menswear tailoring influences to technical clothing spanning beachwear, underwear and activewear. Origami examines the relationship between craftsmanship and textile technology, inspired by Japanese folding techniques and three-dimensional structures.

Ornamenta takes jewellery and precious stones as its reference, showing how laser cutting, thermal bonding and embossing can turn fabric into ornamental structures resembling chains, filigree and gemstones. Bodycon focuses on the relationship between the body, movement and silhouette.

Carvico presents the themes through a 360-degree exhibition at its stands, with mannequins arranged by colour and silhouette. The company is urging designers to treat colour, construction and performance as interconnected elements rather than isolated fabric choices.

Why does this matter for sourcing?

The TrendBook documents the continuing convergence of fashion and performance textiles, as materials originally developed for swimwear and sportswear enter more sophisticated everyday clothing. Carvico, based in Italy, manufactures warp-knitted stretch fabrics for swimwear, sportswear and outerwear, combining textile research, product development and manufacturing, with an emphasis on technical performance, design versatility and environmental responsibility.

For sourcing teams at swimwear and activewear brands, the takeaway is direct: Carvico is inviting them to consolidate a wider share of their ready-to-wear fabric needs with a single Italian mill.