Kingpins Celebrates 10 Years in Amsterdam With Fashion Show, Expanded Initiatives Lineup and New Floorplan
The premiere denim trade show, founded in New York in 2004, launched its first Amsterdam show in 2014.
NEW YORK | October 2024 | Kingpins Show, the original jeans supply chain sourcing event and global denim platform, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Amsterdam during the October 23-24 run of Kingpins Amsterdam at SugarFactory with special events and a new show floorplan.
The theme for this edition of Kingpins is “reflection,” as the show celebrates its history and connection to Amsterdam, where Kingpins first hosted a show in 2014. To celebrate, the opening-night party will include a Pop-Up Fashion Show, featuring denim designs by several show exhibitors. Kingpins introduced Pop-Up Fashion Shows earlier this year at its shows in China and New York. This will be the first time the event is held in Amsterdam and the companies participating in the show are looking forward to showcase their creative designs to the Kingpin audience. The opening-night party will also feature a few other surprises to mark the occasion.
This season, the show space at SugarFactory has been redesigned to centrally locate all exhibitors on the main floor. The Green Area on the second floor will house Denim Talks, Kingpins’ seminar program, as well as the interactive workshops and the food stations. With the new layout, organizers have configured the Green Area to be the show’s destination for education, collaboration, and community.
One of the new workshops, organized by Panther Denim, will highlight the denim company’s natural denim collaboration with Shuise. The hands-on natural indigo workshop will be led by Shuise’s dye master, Professor Wang, who will demonstrate natural dyeing techniques for screen printing and hand-drawing. The workshop will be held from 11-15 on both days of the show and admittance is on a first-come basis.
In addition to all exhibitors, the main floor will house The Boxes, Kingpins’ installation space for denim innovation, inspiration, and collaborations.
A new addition to The Boxes is Mushroom Rodeo, a collaboration from AGI Denim and Ecovative, that combines AGI’s denim fabrics with Ecovative’s mushroom leather.
The Boxes will also feature Future Fit Forum, Kingpins’ initiative exploring the evolution of denim fit with partner Hyosung, as well as Lildenimjean, which will highlight the next generation of denim creatives. Another returning initiative is Key Pieces from Inspiring Wardrobes, a panel discussion with notable denim industry insiders discussing influential denim items from their own wardrobes. In addition to the panel, these pieces are displayed as part of The Boxes, as well. New this season, The Vintage Showroom’s Douglas Gunn has curated the panel and the installation.
The Arvind Indigo Museum will return with original artwork from its collection, including a piece by Based Upon called “Indigo Fragmented Crack,” which will greet visitors at the show’s entrance.
Attendees are invited to drop by the Giant Jeans photobooth and try on a supersized pair of jeans or jacket made from a blend of hemp and Re-Gen cotton woven on selvedge shuttle looms and dyed with natural indigo. The Giant Jeans project was created by Denim Dudes and US Group, which sponsored the photobooth.
Over the course of Kingpins’ history, the event has grown into an international denim exhibition where companies showcase their latest products; meet with customers and supply chain partners; and explore market trends, said Vivian Wang, Kingpins Managing Director & Global Sales Manager.
“Kingpins is not just a trade show, we are also a community,” Wang said. “Over the course of two days, the denim industry gathers at Kingpins to conduct business; learn about new products and practices; connect with old friends and make new ones; to share and exchange ideas; and to get inspired and inspire others. We are committed to continue to build this community around the world and to study and share best practices for our industry.”
ABOUT KINGPINS
The Kingpins Show is an invitation-only, boutique denim sourcing show featuring a highly-edited selection of vendors that include denim and sportswear fabric mills from the U.S., Japan, China, India, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Thailand, Spain and Mexico; wash houses; full package manufacturers; trim providers; and makers of technology, wash chemicals and business solutions. Kingpins, which launched in 2004, produces biannual shows in New York and Amsterdam, as well as annual shows in Hong Kong and China.
In 2023, Messe Frankfurt became a shareholder in Kingpins. Under the agreement with the 800-year-old trade show organizer, Kingpins continues to operate independently as a platform for the industry to meet, network and share information and insights.
