Amsterdam to be decked out in denim for Kingpins trade show

By

Christel Divert

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Oct 22, 2019

The Kingpins trade show is keen to push the denim industry’s boundaries, forcing it to adopt ambitious CSR strategies without any further delay. The show is back in Amsterdam on October 23 and 24 at the Gashouter centre, and its main theme will be the plotting of an eco-sustainable, innovative future for the industry. Among the approximately one hundred exhibitors, producers like Jeanologia, Lenzing, The LYCRA Company, YKK and Egyptian manufacturer Lotus Garments.

Last March, Kingpins announced with great fanfare that it would ask exhibitors to comply with CSR regulations and certifications, a policy that, for last April’s session, applied only to weavers.

For the forthcoming October session, Kingpins has designed an ambitious conference and workshop programme, with renowned guest speakers. Among the issues they will tackle, the circular economy, recycling, eco-sustainability and the role of denim products within a sustainable fashion world.  During the week, and in the run-up to the show, Amsterdam will host an array of events linked to denim and beyond.

New website to be launched soon as industry gateway

Kingpins also announced the launch of a new website, scheduled for next year. The home page will contain information and case histories that “we [as the denim industry] wish to share with exhibitors, visitors, industry operators and all those who are interested in denim and eco-responsible manufacturing.”

Kingpins added that “we want to become the gateway connecting the entire denim industry community: from [cotton] farmers to weavers, garment producers, designers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. We will update our content every week, with a blend of original editorial material, videos, podcasts, street-style photo galleries and a focus on trends.”

The show's newsletter even went as far as quoting US rapper Tupac Shakur to present its future site’s approach: “I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We must begin to make changes.”