Kingpins, the international denim trade show, will move its January show to Los Angeles in 2027. 

The announcement was given during the last January 2026 edition of Kingpins New York.

After ten years of absence, from LA, the show organization felt it was time to return there. Why?

“The timing now feels right. I was especially encouraged by the response to our LA community holiday gathering in December — it was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces and to meet new members of our growing community,” recently explained Vivian Wang, CEO, Kingpins.

“Los Angeles remains at the heart of the U.S. denim industry. The city continues to produce jeans and apparel locally, supported by factories and washhouses that have been at the forefront of industry innovation for decades,” she continues, while recognising the strategic position of this location being near to production centers in Mexico and Central America as an ideal hub for nearshoring. Along with that, the Ports of Los Angeles and San Pedro, one of the busiest seaport complex in the Western Hemisphere and a key gateway to Asia, made them decide to return to a compelling center for denim development and trade.

Moreover, LA offers greta sources of inspiration like, for instance, its shops, the Rose Bowl Flea Market and its museums.

Despite the announcement, they will not add any new show to their program. “We’re replacing the January New York show with a West Coast edition,” continued Wang. 

“New York will always be our birthplace and first home, and we look forward to continuing to build our July show there. But after many winters navigating snowstorms and polar vortices, it felt like the right moment to shake things up. I can’t promise sunshine — but it’s safe to say snow boots won’t be required,” she added, without disclosing any other detail about timing and location of the newborn project.