Message from the CEO: A New Channel to Connect, Inspire and Interact
In our industry — and among the Kingpins team — we use the word “community” quite often. Over the years, I have yet to find a better term or phrase that captures the special appeal of this business. It’s the reason I love working in this business and I believe it’s the same for most of you.
This communal camaraderie is our strength. That spirit of connection and the willingness to collaborate with each other has helped us grow and prosper, just as it’s helped us weather difficult times.
That is the reason I have made it Kingpins’ mission to reach out to the next generation, to help foster their understanding of our industry and share their ideas. I see a lot of recent graduates’ portfolios and meet with new designers who have great ideas. But there’s a disconnect between the industry and these creatives.
They are really passionate about jeans but not all of them have the depth of knowledge about how denim is made that many of us do. Of course, for many of these creatives that passion is propelling them to learn everything they can about denim and jeans, whether their learning path is academic or self-driven or experiential. No matter the route they are taking or how far along they are on the journey, it is always gratifying to me to see their enthusiasm to dive into every aspect of denim — from the fiber to fabric to finishing.
The truth is, the excitement and passion I see in young talents and emerging designers for this industry is not unlike what I see in people with years of denim production under their belt. We are an industry that is perpetually evolving and innovating. We may be rooted in tradition and inspired by denim history, but we’re always searching for the next innovation. That is exciting and that is something we should share — as a community.
That’s why I want to create a channel where everyone can meet — from those new to our business as well as those with deep experience. We’re all in love with denim and jeans. We love being in this business and we love our community. There’s so much potential for us to be inspired by each other.
In April, we gave you a sneak peak of this channel with a Denim Talk called Denim 101: Introduction led by Michael Morell, the President and CEO of Freedom Denim Americas and Europe. A sixth-generation textile and apparel expert from a family whose legacy in the U.S. textile business stretches back more than 200 years, Michael will be back for an expanded version at Kingpins New York
On the second day of the show, we will present Denim 101 by Kingpins Show, alongside other industry experts who will lead us through a portion of the denim supply chain. Proximity’s Evan Morrison will kick things off with a little denim history to set the stage. Cone Denim’s Caitlyn Holt will then discuss the cotton supply chain from seed to spinning. And then Michael returns to walk us through the range of fibers used in the modern denim industry.
We’re calling it Denim 101, but don’t think of it as a class or a lecture or even a seminar. Think of it as a conversation. It’s not about learning the denim basics from scratch. Instead, it’s about building a space where different forms of knowledge meet — both traditional and new. I want to impress on everyone that Denim 101 is not just about teaching, but it’s also about sharing, interaction and mutual inspiration — everyone is encouraged to join, regardless of experience level.
We hope you join us at 2:30pm on July 24. Let’s foster communication and connection across the entire denim community. Let’s grow our community together.
See you in New York.
