- Kingpins New York trade show runs January 21-22, 2026, at Pier 36/Basketball City, gathering global denim supply chain exhibitors for networking and sustainability education.
- Debuts S|Style – Denim Lab powered by Kering, led by fashion director Giorgia Cantarini, showcasing emerging creatives' sustainable denim innovations.
- Lab focuses on responsible water management, dyeing, washing techniques, and regenerative cotton from Kering’s Material Innovation Lab partners like PureDenim and Tonello.
- Features creative installations such as AGI Denim's textile waste tapestries and Tonello's Botanical Alchemy with natural dyes.
- Includes Be Disobedient trend forecasts and Kingpins Gallery highlighting new fabric, manufacturing, and finishing advancements.
New York (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 21, 2026 - Kingpins New York prepares for its January 21-22 edition at Pier 36/Basketball City, featuring the new S|Style – Denim Lab powered by Kering. The event gathers global denim supply chain exhibitors for networking and education on sustainability. Kering supports the lab to showcase emerging creatives focusing on responsible water management and innovative denim techniques.
Kingpins New York opens today at Pier 36/Basketball City, hosting leading denim mills, manufacturers, and suppliers from the global supply chain. The invitation-only trade show, launched in 2004, provides a forum for the international denim community to network, gain inspiration, and explore educational opportunities. This edition introduces several new initiatives, including the S|Style – Denim Lab powered by Kering, overseen by fashion director Giorgia Cantarini.
Event Details and Venue Confirmation
The show runs from January 21 to 22 at Pier 36/Basketball City, located at 299 South Street in New York. Exhibitors represent various segments of the denim industry, including fibre makers, mills, manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and machinery providers. Kingpins maintains a curated selection to balance business meetings with creative and innovative displays.
Visitors can expect opportunities for direct networking with international denim suppliers. The event builds on previous editions, such as the October 2025 Amsterdam show, which featured "Made In" showcases and an expanded Jeanius Hub on global craftsmanship and denim technology.
S|Style Denim Lab Powered by Kering
Credit: premierevision.com
A key highlight is the S|Style – Denim Lab powered by Kering, designed as a platform for emerging creatives to showcase sustainable denim work. Giorgia Cantarini leads the project, which emphasises sustainable criteria in design. Kering, owner of brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, and Brioni, powers this edition with a focus on denim and responsible water management.
Participants in the lab experimented with dyeing, washing, and regenerative cotton solutions from Kering’s Material Innovation Lab (MIL). Collaborations involved industry partners PureDenim and Tonello for these innovations. The lab serves as an independent space for designers to present work developed under these sustainable guidelines.
Additional Creative Collaborations and Installations
The Boxes area features creative projects, including AGI Denim's partnership with artist Mahmoud Kosyaem of CreativeMindsBK. Kosyaem transforms discarded denim scraps into tapestries to demonstrate utilisation of textile waste. Tonello debuts Botanical Alchemy, an installation with Maegan Neubeck of MN Natural Dye Studio.
Neubeck's studio uses organic matter and plant-based waste for natural dye and sustainable wash techniques on garments. This installation studies colour effects from natural sources. These collaborations aim to illustrate innovative production methods within the denim sector.
Trend Forecasts and Gallery Features
Be Disobedient provides the trend forecast for the event, with analysts sharing “Trend Picks” in the Kingpins Gallery. The gallery spotlights new developments in fabric, manufacturing, and finishing processes from exhibitors. This section offers insights into recent industry advancements.
The event continues Kingpins' emphasis on inspiration alongside business, featuring hands-on creative elements. Previous shows introduced areas like Japanese mills showcases and denim innovation displays.
Kingpins Show Background and Global Reach
Kingpins launched in 2004 as the first jeans supply chain show in New York. It has grown into a global network focused on innovation, sustainability, and transparency in the denim industry. Upcoming events include Amsterdam on April 15-16, 2026.
The show connects members of the denim community through information, ideas, and innovation forums. Kingpins New York remains a key platform for the international denim supply chain.