The denim sourcing show drew 584 attendees from 275 companies, reflecting an increase in company participation despite an 8% decline in overall attendance compared to prior exhibitions.
It hosted nearly 70 exhibitors, ranging from mills and manufacturers to chemical and machinery suppliers. This year’s highlights included “The Lil Denim Show presents General Experiment,” an installation by designer Laurence Wei whose collection, titled “In Hopes to Die Like Mold,” explores deeply personal themes inspired by his grandfather’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
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Another notable initiative was S|STYLE – DENIM LAB powered by KERING. Curated by Giorgia Cantarini, this installation featured designers collaborating with KERING, a luxury group that includes brands such as Gucci and Balenciaga. Designers experimented with innovative dyeing techniques and regenerative cotton solutions provided by KERING’s Material Innovation Lab, in partnership with PureDenim and Tonello.
Continuing the educational theme, Ana Paula Alves from Be Disobedient led a seminar titled “Denim Forecast: From URL to IRL,” discussing macro trend drivers shaping consumer behaviour. Additionally, Cotton Inc.’s Jennifer Lukowiak facilitated a discussion on the evolution of cotton, featuring industry experts such as Tricia Carey from Avalo, Katie Tague from Artistic Milliners, Buxton Midyette from Supima, and Alice Tonello from Tonello.
A panel on new dye technology was led by consultant Dana Davis. She engaged in conversation with Dr. Fuchao Xu of Chloris, Dustin White from LabDenim, and Jeffrey Erhard of Shreenika to explore recent advancements in the field.
Kingpins CEO Vivian Wang said: “We’re excited to see new companies discovering Kingpins, along with familiar faces returning after time away.
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By GlobalData“We knew attendance might look different this season as brands navigate economic uncertainty, but the purpose of the show hasn’t changed. Kingpins is about storytelling, fresh ideas and bringing the global denim community together in a meaningful way.”
Wang emphasised the event’s commitment to inspiration and progression within the industry. “My focus is on keeping Kingpins a place where the industry feels inspired, supported and ready to move forward,” Wang stated.
Kingpins remains an invitation-only platform designed for networking among fibre makers, mills, manufacturers, and other stakeholders in the denim and jeans business.
Last year’s Kingpins New York 2025, which took place in July had almost 690 attendees from nearly 320 firms meet with its denim exhibitors.
