Kingpins’ New Collab Seeks to Offer Digital Supply Chain Tools for Denim Industry

July 16, 2020 | New York | Kingpins Show organizers are building a digital denim supply chain platform through an agreement with Material Exchange, which has created a sourcing database with nearly 20,000 digital materials from the biggest suppliers around the world. 

Kingpins, the first-ever denim supply chain show, has evolved into the world’s most influential denim event, helping to set new standards for corporate social responsibility and chemical responsibility and more.

“We have never been a real estate company, selling space so that mills can sell their fabrics,” said Andrew Olah, founder of Kingpins Show. “Our goal has always been to educate, advocate and — in some instances — push the denim industry to evolve and behave more responsibly. However, we have relied on our physical shows in New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and China to bring our mix of vetted and selected supply chain partners and our invite-only guests together around the globe. While our in-person events are key for our industry to connect and collaborate, Kingpins is committed to finding digital solutions to support mills and brands globally.”

Kingpins’ first foray into providing digital solutions for its exhibitors and attendees was Kingpins24, an online event featuring livestreamed content, webinars, interviews, panels and product demonstrations. Kingpins24 launched in April and returned in June. 

The agreement with Material Exchange represents the next step in the process to complement Kingpins’ successful in-person events with new digital solutions. A digital platform for denim mills will allow Kingpins exhibitors to showcase their textiles to denim brands year-round. Kingpins is looking for ways to create greater opportunities for business and build new ways for brands to conveniently source denim fabrics from Kingpins’ exhibitors. The goal is to provide denim brands with tools to be able to source denim and denim related fabrics instantly, view detailed product data online and help buyers make informed decisions about the materials needed for product design and creation process.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Kingpin Show to provide a secure platform for the materials and detailed material attribute data to the denim industry. The partnership with Kingpin Show will enable brands and suppliers to continue on their digital journey and source denim products instantly,” said Darren Glenister, Chief Executive of Material Exchange. 

Additional details will be announced as Kingpins and Material Exchange develop and roll out tools tailored for the sourcing needs of the denim 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 2020, Kingpins launched KINGPINS24, the first online-only denim supply chain event, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Material Exchange: 

Founded in Stockholm, Sweden, Material Exchange works directly with the world’s leading retail apparel and footwear brands to analyse, optimise and digitise their material sourcing and development processes.The Material Exchange database is a highly secure vault containing almost 20,000 digital materials from the suppliers around the world. Material Exchange brand customers include Ariat, Wolverine Worldwide, Keen, VF, Caleres, Steve Madden, Deckers Brands and more.