Kingpins launches Global Awards

By

Olivier Guyot

Published
Oct 23, 2014

Kingpins is returning to Amsterdam. The American denim supply trade show organizer is putting on its second European edition. From October 29-30, forty or so denim sourcing companies, including Tavex and Invista, will descend upon the post-industrial Westergasfabriek.

Besides the individual professional exchanges, the two-day event will be punctuated by seminars with titles such as "shaping denim: a new opportunity” and “denim design: inspiration vs. copies” as well as style guides for the coming seasons presented by WGSN. 

The organization will also debut Global Denim Awards. Sponsored by e3, a Bayer CropScience’s environmentally responsible certified cotton fiber, Kingpins has thought up a unique kind of competition involving teams made up of one designer and one denim producer. 

“The idea is to put design talent in direct contact with the industry, while creating the space for manufacturers to showcase their expertise and, in working with their designers, to demonstrate how their fabrics can be used to help push fashion design forward,” said Andrew Olah, founder of Kingpins. “We’re creating a space that allows designers to improve their understanding of developments in denim, thereby creating opportunities for innovation." 

The six designers selected by Kingpins will produce five silhouettes with fabrics from companies such as Candiani Denim, Royo, ITV, Bossa, Orta Anadolu Textile and Prosperity. The pieces will be presented and judged at a fashion show held the evening of October 29. The winner will receive a 10,000 euro prize and will have his or her work exhibited at Kingpins’ various shows.