Every six months, the denim community heads to Amsterdam for the Kingpins Show, one of the industry’s top events. I had the pleasure of reconnecting with colleagues, denim enthusiasts, and friends from around the world. It was two intense days filled with education, innovation, and new product launches.
I particularly enjoyed the seminars and educational talks. I don’t always get the time to focus on this side of the show, so I made it a priority. I learned about material innovation from experts like EBRU OZAYDIN, N. Sebla Onder, Mustafain Munir, and Cornelia (Conny) Wittke-Kothe, all brilliantly moderated by Tricia Carey. I found fresh inspiration in the “Key Pieces from Inspiring Wardrobes” session, hosted by Vivian Wang and curated by doug gunn. The speakers, including Sue Barrett, Malin Ekengren, David Tring , and Miles Johnson shared engaging stories, transporting us into their worlds and emphasising the importance of emotional connections with garments for durability and mindful ownership. And of course, Shannon Reddy's Denim Dudes' trend seminar was exceptional!
This time, I was invited to participate in the Future Fits Forum, an initiative by Kingpins Show and Michelle Branch, powered by Creora by Hyosung Performance Textiles. Now in its third edition, the Future Fits Forum has become a key reference point for fit and silhouette trends in the denim industry, bringing together diverse voices and perspectives. With sustainability at its core, the initiative showcased creations using BOSSA fabric made with bio-based stretch from Hyosung. Upcycling was another focal point, with each designer receiving an iconic pair of 501 jeans to reimagine and repurpose.
My experience at the Future Fits Forum concluded with an inspiring talk hosted by Michelle, featuring two promising young talents, Esther Knight and Ruben Jurriën B., whom I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more from in the future.
Many thanks to Michelle Branch, Hyosung Performance Textiles, and Kingpins Show for including me in this edition!