Connection, Innovation and Inspiration at Kingpins Amsterdam
Kingpins Amsterdam returned to SugarFactory on April 15-16, drawing more than 1,000 denim industry professionals for two days of sourcing conversations, sustainable innovation, emerging technology, and industry networking.
The show featured 100 exhibitors from around the world on the floor, spanning denim mills, manufacturers, fiber makers and suppliers. Brands and retailers shopping the show included Levi’s, Madewell, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Urban Outfitters, Target, Gap, Mavi, Jack & Jones, Nudie Jeans, Hugo Boss, Karl Lagerfeld and Zimmermann.
This season, the show saw an expanded Jeanius Hub section, the show’s area for state-ups and new developments; as well as the return of Made in Japan, Kingpins’ focus on the quality and craftsmanship of Japanese denim makers.
Other highlights included:
+ The newest collection in its Most Sustainable Product initiative, which highlights the latest sustainable innovations, developments and practices by Kingpins Show exhibitors. Dubbed “This Rebel Artist,” by designers Piero Turk and Serena Conti, the collection is inspired by 20th century artists that use their art as a form of rebellion. Manufactured and finished by Asutex, the MSP collection featured sustainable fabrics from Foison Textiles, HW Textile, Naveena Denim Mills, Neela by Sapphire, Prosperity Textile, Sharabati, US Group, and Vicunha; labels by Turtex Etiquette; and buttons, zippers and rivets by YKK.
+ “From ESSENTIALS to SPECIALS,” a collaboration between Tunisian manufacturer Denim House and Spanish technology company Jeanologia. The collection highlighted two water-saving technologies, digital printing and laser to show how technology supports responsible production while enriching creative expression.
+ Beautiful Ruins and The Aesthetics of Damage, the vintage garments installation curated by The Vintage Showroom
+ Future Fit Forum: the finish edition supported by CREORA® by Hyosung TNC with finishing by Jeanologia, curated by Michelle Branch (Markt & Twigs) and featuring designs by Arianna Andela, Betina Grosser, Bohloeki Sibolla, Miko Underwood, Sue Barrett and Veronica Fourcade
+ The Lil Denim Show presents Kai Ghattaura, an installation in The Boxes highlighting the work of Kai Ghattaura, a 23-year-old British-Indian designer whose work takes internet subculture into real life garments.
+ S|STYLE powered by Kering, a large-format photo exhibition of the latest designs in the S|STYLE independent platform created by Giorgia Cantarini. The 2025 edition, developed in collaboration with Kering’s Material Innovation Lab, featured designs by Institution (Georgia–Italy); Gerrit Jacob (Germany); Jeanne Friot (France); Nadya Dzyak (Ukraine); Sia Arnika (Denmark); Gisele Ntsama (Cameroon–Italy) and Phan Dang Hoang (Vietnam)
+ Celebrating 50 Years of Stone Washing / Artistic Milliners x Denim Theater x Endrime, an installation highlighting one of the most transformative innovations in the history of denim.
+ Re-dye, Re-use, Recycle by Tintes Egara x Jeanologia, a demonstration of Jeanologia’s Colorbox machine to transform existing garments using natural dyes in a closed-loop system that consumes minimal energy and virtually no water.
+ Denim with Purpose by Rajby Textiles, a collaborative initiative between Rajby Textiles and the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), that celebrates creativity and inclusion by providing individuals with Down syndrome an international platform to showcase their talent.
