Top brands converge at Kingpins New York, showcasing denim innovation

The denim sourcing amusement drew 584 attendees from 275 companies, reflecting an summation successful institution information contempt an 8% diminution successful wide attendance compared to anterior exhibitions.

It hosted astir 70 exhibitors, ranging from mills and manufacturers to chemic and machinery suppliers. This year’s highlights included “The Lil Denim Show presents General Experiment,” an installation by decorator Laurence Wei whose collection, titled "In Hopes to Die Like Mold," explores profoundly idiosyncratic themes inspired by his grandfather's conflict with Alzheimer’s.

Another notable inaugural was S|STYLE – DENIM LAB powered by KERING. Curated by Giorgia Cantarini, this installation featured designers collaborating with KERING, a luxury radical that includes brands specified arsenic Gucci and Balenciaga. Designers experimented with innovative dyeing techniques and regenerative fabric solutions provided by KERING’s Material Innovation Lab, successful concern with PureDenim and Tonello.

Continuing the acquisition theme, Ana Paula Alves from Be Disobedient led a seminar titled “Denim Forecast: From URL to IRL,” discussing macro inclination drivers shaping user behaviour. Additionally, Cotton Inc.’s Jennifer Lukowiak facilitated a treatment connected the improvement of cotton, featuring manufacture experts specified arsenic Tricia Carey from Avalo, Katie Tague from Artistic Milliners, Buxton Midyette from Supima, and Alice Tonello from Tonello.

A sheet connected caller dye exertion was led by advisor Dana Davis. She engaged successful speech with Dr. Fuchao Xu of Chloris, Dustin White from LabDenim, and Jeffrey Erhard of Shreenika to research caller advancements successful the field.

Kingpins CEO Vivian Wang said: “We’re excited to spot caller companies discovering Kingpins, on with acquainted faces returning aft clip away.

“We knew attendance mightiness look antithetic this play arsenic brands navigate economical uncertainty, but the intent of the amusement hasn’t changed. Kingpins is astir storytelling, caller ideas and bringing the planetary denim assemblage unneurotic successful a meaningful way.”

Wang emphasised the event’s committedness to inspiration and progression wrong the industry. “My absorption is connected keeping Kingpins a spot wherever the manufacture feels inspired, supported and acceptable to determination forward,” Wang stated.

Kingpins remains an invitation-only level designed for networking among fibre makers, mills, manufacturers, and different stakeholders successful the denim and jeans business.

Last year’s Kingpins New York 2025, which took spot successful July had astir 690 attendees from astir 320 firms conscionable with its denim exhibitors.