Turkish Denim Mill Orta Shuts Down

by · WWD
OrtaCourtesy

Orta announced on Friday that it will cease operations after 40 years of pioneering premium denim.

Production at the Istanbul-based company’s Kayseri facilities has been suspended as of Sept. 11. The company’s other production facilities will close on Oct. 12, 2026.

In a statement, the company said it will work closely with its stakeholders to fulfill its existing commercial obligations “responsibly, transparently and in alignment with our corporate values.”

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Orta was founded in 1953 and has been supplying denim to global brands like Levi’s, Agolde, G-Star, 7 For All Mankind and more since 1986. Known for R&D and introducing first-to-market products, the Fall/Winter 27-28 collection featured Archroma’s new award-winning wool waste-based dye solution, cashmere wool blends and an expanded range of finishes and overdyes.

Rumors about the mill going out of business began earlier this year. At Denim PV in Milan in May, several representatives from other mills said they’ve heard about Orta winding down. Others said Orta employees have been searching for job opportunities; another said their company was fulfilling orders for Orta’s clients.

At the time, a representative from Orta said the company made some pricing adjustments in response to rising supply chain costs, but that it was operating as usual and remained committed to serving its customers.

Rising operational and financing costs, weakening global demand and shifting trade dynamics ultimately led the board of directors to discontinue operations, the company said. “Despite our comprehensive efforts—such as cost reduction initiatives, operational efficiency measures and restructuring evaluations—unfortunately, it has been concluded that the current operational model is no longer sustainable under these economic conditions,” the company stated.

Orta is not alone in navigating difficult decisions amid today’s challenging economic environment. Earlier this month, Cone Denim announced it plans to end its manufacturing operations in China by the end of this year, citing economic, market and geopolitical conditions that have made long-term financial stability challenging. However, Cone will continue to manufacture in Mexico.

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