Soft Core: stretch denim with enduring comfort and premium craftsmanship

In the world of denim, where durability and authenticity have always been the gold standard, Candiani’s Soft Core collection introduces a new era of comfort without compromise. Made from a unique blend of regenerative Blue Seed cotton and LYCRA® EcoMade fibers, these premium stretch denim fabrics are designed to maintain their shape, softness, and fit over time—ensuring that your jeans feel as good on day one as they do after countless wears. Whether you’re drawn to the classic silhouette of 5-pocket jeans or the effortless sophistication of chino pants, Soft Core offers a customizable experience that merges timeless style with cutting-edge fabric innovation. Explore how we’ve combined heritage craftsmanship with sustainable innovation to create jeans that move, flex, and live with you.

Soft Core means long-lasting comfort and fit

Our newly launched Soft Core collection features premium stretch denim fabrics that provide enduring comfort, prevent fit deterioration, and offer an exceptional hand feel. Like any good recipe, high-quality denim starts with the right ingredients. Our Soft Core fabrics are made from regenerative Blue Seed cotton and LYCRA® EcoMade, creating an incredibly soft and durable combination.

Blue Seed cotton

Blue Seed cotton is a hybrid variety developed by Gowan Seed Company, and we have exclusive access to its seeds. This exclusivity allows us to selectively distribute the seeds to chosen farmers, enabling us to trace the entire supply chain of our cotton. Blue Seed cotton is non-GMO and benefits from a phenomenon known as heterosis or hybrid vigor. This occurs by combining the high quality of extra-long staple cotton with the strength of Upland cotton, resulting in a plant with superior biological functions that exceed the simple sum of its parent plants.

Additionally, Blue Seed cotton can be cultivated in arid soil conditions because it is more resilient in the field and requires fewer resources to grow. This makes it an ideal rotational crop—a practice that is popular in regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture seeks to restore the land’s natural functions by enhancing soil health and reestablishing ecological balance. Crop rotation involves planting different crops in sequence on the same land, which helps break disease and pest cycles, enhances soil structure and fertility, and reduces the need for chemical inputs. Our regenerative Blue Seed cotton is certified by regenagri®.

LYCRA® T400® EcoMade

LYCRA® EcoMade is produced using renewable, bio-based materials and recycled plastic diverted from landfills. It offers long-lasting comfort, a great fit, and excellent shape retention, resisting bagging and sagging. This means it maintains the same desirable features and performance benefits as the original fiber.

What’s premium stretch denim?

The foundation of premium denim lies in the combination of high-quality materials, authentic washes, and superior performance. The premium denim industry emerged in the 1980s, marking a transition from jeans as mere commodities to luxury, stylish apparel. Los Angeles is often recognized as the birthplace of this shift, largely due to the invention of stretch denim fabrics in the late 1970s. Stretch denim, which incorporates elastane, allows for the production of jeans that are both form-fitting and comfortable. This alluring garment quickly became one of the most sought-after items among women worldwide, as it enhances body shape while maintaining the classic comfort and aesthetic of traditional denim.

Candiani’s stretch denim gained notoriety in the 1980s for successfully blending this new elastic performance with authentic denim aesthetics, laying the groundwork for the burgeoning premium denim industry in Los Angeles. Today, stretch fabrics remain a signature product for us, and we continuously innovate them to minimize their environmental impact while enhancing their visual appeal.

We cannot overstate the importance of investing in premium denim. Unlike other fabrics, denim becomes more beautiful as it ages; the indigo fades according to the wearer’s habits, telling a unique and personal story. Durability and resistance are the defining characteristics of original jeans, but these qualities can only be ensured through the use of superior materials, high-quality manufacturing processes, and meticulous attention to detail, which prevent quick damage from wear and tear. Investing in premium stretch denim is particularly crucial, as elastic fibers are usually weaker than cotton and can break down more easily with frequent wear and washing.

Consequently, premium stretch denim further stresses the shared advantages of stretch fabrics, including:

• Creating a tighter and more flattering fit that enhances body shape while providing exceptional comfort
• Allowing for greater freedom of movement and a soft touch against the skin
• Maintaining the original shape of jeans after use and washing, without distortion
• Providing flexibility and versatility for manufacturing a wide range of fits
• Ensuring a sleek and polished look throughout the day, minimizing the annoyance of baggy knees that can occur with traditional denim

Discover our Soft Core customizable jeans for superior comfort

Our Soft Core fabrics are available in our store in Piazza Mentana, 3, Milan, in dark indigo and black colors, featuring two customizable fits: 5-pocket jeans and chino pants. Clients can choose from a specific size and select their preferred hem length and hardware options. Available hardware includes buttons and rivets in gold, silver, copper, black, or white, as well as our exclusive jewel buttons by Nove25.

Customers can also personalize their jeans with a back patch in cocoon, natural, dark brown, indigo, or black. They have the option to add either a name or a drawing that will be laser-engraved on the patch. Additionally, clients can have their initials embroidered in their chosen color.

5-pocket jeans

5-pocket jeans are the direct successor to the riveted garment patented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in 1873. These work pants were reinforced at the stitching and pockets to ensure durability and comfort for laborers searching for fortune in the Western United States. Their success led to significant production and laid the foundation for what is now known as Levi’s.

Initially, the patented pants had only four pockets (three in the front and one in the back); the fifth pocket was officially added by Levi’s® in 1901. Over the years, other characteristics have changed to create the 5-pocket jeans we use today: the fit has become slimmer, the back strap and buttons for suspenders have been eliminated, and belt loops have been added.

Today, 5-pocket jeans are available in a wide range of fits, from relaxed and loose styles to skinny, tight-fitting options. The regular fit remains the most popular, closely resembling the original garment patented by Davis and Strauss. Typically, these jeans have a consistent width from hip to ankle, ensuring comfort and balance for the wearer while providing freedom of movement and a neat appearance. They also offer functionality and versatility, as they can easily be paired with various tops and footwear for different occasions.

Our Soft Core 5-pocket jeans feature a slightly slimmer cut towards the ankle than conventional regular-fit jeans, providing a sleek and polished look. Thanks to our innovative stretch denim fabrics, they offer exceptional comfort, freedom of movement, and a soft feel. These jeans are a great choice if you find rigid denim too stiff, rough, or uncomfortable, as they deliver a smoother and more flexible option without sacrificing the authentic aesthetic of traditional jeans.

Chino pants

Chino pants became a fashion statement after World War II, when Hollywood stars and Ivy League students popularized them, distancing them from their original military roots. After being worn by US Navy and Air Force personnel during the war, chino pants entered the surplus military clothing that flooded the US market post-war, appealing to new generations. However, the origins of chino pants date back much earlier.

British soldiers wore early versions of what we now know as chino pants in the Indian colonies around 1840. The typical color for chino pants is khaki, which was originally dyed using spices and coffee. This choice of color is now supposed to have served one or both of these two purposes: it helped hide dust stains on white garments or allowed soldiers to blend into their surroundings.

The name “chino” was coined at the end of the century in the Philippines, where Spanish was the official language. During the Spanish-American War of 1898, US soldiers also wore khaki chino pants due to their comfort and durability. These pants were typically made from 100% cotton twill, primarily imported from China. In Spanish, “chino” means “Chinese.”

Today, chino pants are a beloved wardrobe staple that can be made from various fabrics, including denim, offering an alternative to classic 5-pocket jeans. They usually feature four pockets (two in the front and two in the back, which are typically partially concealed) and have a slightly slim style that flatters the figure without being constricting. Our customizable fit reflects these characteristics. Chino pants are appreciated for their comfort and versatility, as they can be easily dressed up or down depending on the occasion.