The Kingpins show returns to New York’s Pier 36/Basketball City this week (July 23-24) and among highlights will be a new area devoted to Japanese mills and manufacturers, in addition to a broad showcase of new denim innovations.

“Each season and for every city, we strive to bring new ideas, new technologies and new sources of inspiration to Kingpins,” says Vivian Wang, CEO of the denim supply chain trade show. “Our show is not just a platform for retailers and brands to meet with the best denim suppliers in the world but also a space for inspiration, education and connection across the entire supply chain. At a time when we can all use a hopeful reminder of the progress that has already been made in moving towards a more sustainable and successful denim industry, we believe Kingpins can is the platform where changes begin.”

Made in Japan, the new section focused on the quality and craftsmanship of Japanese denim will feature a select group of companies including Ideablue, ICE, Japan Delivery Service, Reflos and Rainbow Textiles.

LAB Denim, Circ, COLOURizd, and Circulose are meanwhile among exhibitors taking part in Jeanius Hub, the show’s platform for new ideas.

Denim 101 will be an interactive discussion about denim history led by industry experts, all with extensive hands-on denim business experience, including Freedom Denim’s Michael Morell, Proximity Manufacturing Company’s Evan Morrison and Cone Denim’s Caitlyn Holt.

The event will also host the launch of the new book, American Denim: The Supposed Final Days and Resurgence of a Manufacturing Icon. Created by Proximity MFG's director, Evan Morrison, and shot by photographer Matt Sharkey over the course of a decade, the book captures the iconic White Oak Plant during its last years of industrial production and the relaunch of shuttle weaving by Proximity MFG in 2021.

www.kingpinsshow.com