The last edition of Kingpins Amsterdam closed its last edition, taking place on April 15-16 SugarFactory offered a new occasion to discover the latest trends of the market, a highly inspiring moment, while remembering denim legend Adriano Goldschmied.
The show recalled 1,033 attendees from 514 companies across 40 countries with a slight decrease in foot traffic from the October 2025 show, but roughly the same number of visiting companies.
“Retailers and brands are being strategic with travel budgets,” said Vivian Wand, CEO, Kingpins.
“Our highly curated exhibitor roster packs an extraordinary level of inspiration, innovation, and meaningful connections into just two days,” she added.
While the show hosted around 100 exhibitors from around the world, a vast selection of international brands and companies visited the event.
Among others, Levi’s, Madewell, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Urban Outfitters, Target, Gap, Mavi, Jack & Jones, Nudie Jeans, Hugo Boss, Karl Lagerfeld, and Zimmermann spent their time meeting mills, fiber and chemical specialists, finishers, and garment makers, to name a few categories.
“We’ve been in active conversation with designers, retailers, and brands—listening closely to learn how we can sharpen the experience for everyone who walks through our doors,” Wang said.
“The goal is straightforward: smoother navigation, smarter scheduling with the right partners, and enough breathing room to let the unexpected happen. I hope everyone who visits Kingpins will go home with something real: a fresh perspective, a connection that matters, a technology worth a second look, or an idea that quietly shapes what comes next,” added the manager.
This season, the show presented a new installment of Kingpins’ Most Sustainable Product initiative. Also new was “This Rebel Artist,” an installation designed by Piero Turk and Serena Conti, drawing inspiration from 20th-century artists who used their work as a form of rebellion.
The garments on show were manufactured and finished by Astex and featured sustainable fabrics from Foison Textiles, HW Textile, Naveena Denim Mills, Neela by Sapphire, Prosperity Textile, Sharabati, US Group and Vicunha. Labels were by Turtex Etiquette; and buttons, zippers and rivets by YKK.
Among other projects, Jeanologia presented a special project fetauring laser-based treatments developed by using AI and “From Essentials to Specials,” a collaboration with Tunisian manufacturer Denim House. The collection showcased two water-saving technologies–digital printing and laser–demonstrating how innovation can support responsible production without sacrificing creative expression.
Among other debuts they hosted Chloris, a biobased new dyeing technique, and Unspun, a special weaving technique that can manufacture a seamless leg at a time.
Exhibitors hosted many fabrics and developments for f/w 2027/2028. A most outstanding evolution was the launch of many soft-touch denim solutions and ready-for-dye (read here) and many others I will report about very soon.
The show also dedicated a special celebrative moment for Adriano Goldschmied. They welcomed his family and connect with the many friends and colleagues he touched throughout his career.
“Adriano always believed that everything we create should have a purpose and meaning. I hope that his positive spirit and his drive to always push our industry forward stays with all of us,” she commented. For more details read my report on the tribute hosted by the show.