The two-day Kingpins exhibition, which took place from 22 to 23 May 2025 at the ADM MORE venue in Hangzhou, China encompassed both B2B and B2C engagements, such as networking opportunities for wholesalers, retail pop-up stores, interactive workshops, and a runway show.
Focusing on two primary themes: ‘Innovation’ and ‘Inspiration’, the Kingpins China show for 2025 was designed to provide both enlightenment and motivation to a diverse audience ranging from professionals within the industry to enthusiasts of denim and jeans.
The seminar component of the event, ‘Denim Talks’, mirrored these themes with sessions on topics like circularity in fashion, advancements in materials, and pioneering approaches within the denim sector.
Additionally, there were panel discussions with leaders in denim design and production, alongside presentations on trends in garment washing and upcycling.
Kingpins Show chief executive officer Vivian Wang said: "Everyone owns at least one pair of jeans, but many outside the industry don’t realise the level of innovation, craftsmanship, and technology behind them.
“At Kingpins China, our goal is to create a space where professionals and consumers come together — where newcomers can learn, seasoned experts can share, and denim lovers can be inspired. We’re here to support our exhibitors in telling the full denim story — and to show the world that denim is much more than just a pair of jeans.”
The trade show included a dedicated B2B area where fabric mills, producers, and vendors engaged with designers, brands, and retailers to present their most recent product lines and innovations.
A separate B2C section was set up to display inspiring exhibits, initiatives, and workshops as well as the Denim Talks platform.
Attendees had the chance to visit The Boxes at Kingpins, a space dedicated to fostering creative partnerships. These installations showcased various ongoing projects like the Future Fit Forum and MSP - Most Sustainable Product.
They also featured inventive offerings from Vintage Style Research and collections such as Denim Metiérs by Jeanologia.
Additional features of the event included showcases by Tonello, an Italian machinery firm; a collaborative effort between Shanghai's UseDem and Hangzhou's Dinghui Fashion; and an interactive exhibit by the Lycra Company featuring COOLMAX technology.
Participants also had the opportunity to engage directly in crafting denim designs or delve into techniques such as hand-finishing, printing or repurposing denim garments.
The trade show concluded with a pop-up fashion show titled "Young and the Future: A Pop-Up Fashion Show," showcasing works by Ponder.er, Angel Chan, UseDem, and Jeanologia.
Kingpins Amsterdam 2025, which was held on 16-17 April featured a special section titled ‘Made in Japan’, showcasing a range of Japanese denim mills and manufacturers such as Big John, ICE, Ideablue, Japan Delivery Service, Kurabo, Kuroki, Rainbow Textiles, San Marino, Showa, and Teijin Frontier.
