Kingpins transformers

With its second installment of its “Most Sustainable Products” initiative, Kingpins Show spotlights a variety of independently vetted products that bring real environmental impact to the denim industry.

NEW YORK | December 4, 2019 | With its newly-released “Most Sustainable Products” list for the Spring/Summer 2021 season, Kingpins continues its commitment to be the platform for education and innovation within the denim industry. Developed to provide objective, reliable information for brands and designers seeking guidance on sustainable resources at Kingpins Shows, MSP is, as it’s name suggests, a seasonal list of the 10 most sustainable products found at Kingpins’ largest show – Kingpins Amsterdam.

This season, the best environmentally-sensitive denim innovations on the Kingpins Amsterdam show floor fell into three general categories:

+ Fibers – Mills almost unanimously adopted organic and recycled cottons in new articles displayed at the show. Tencel remains important and is used in combination with recycled cotton for performance reasons. Hemp made appearances in various products. Finally, while there was a focus on recycled polyester from some mills, there are various mills following the strategy to move completely away from polyester.

+ Application Processes – Mills have sought to reduce water, chemical and energy usage with a variety of dyeing and application processes. One method that is gaining traction relies on treating warp yarns with a cationic agent prior to weaving, followed by impregnation of warp and weft yarns with a pre-reduced indigo bath. This process calls for fewer indigo dye boxes needed to achieve a dark tone and requires no washing off, resulting in less water, dye and chemicals used. a final fixation with the same cationic agent is required for improved colorfastness.
Additionally, many Kingpins exhibitors are looking into more-superficial dye processes that result in quick wash down, allowing for savings in time, chemicals and energy, and is particularly suitable for laser finishing.

+ New Concepts – Mills are approaching sustainability and impact from a variety of angles – ranging from establishing zero-impact goals for new fabrics, to moving away from indigo, and even reducing the environmental impact of fabrics beyond mills and into the laundry.

“Innovation, sustainability and transparency are the critical elements of our show today. MSP is our solution to bring actionable and reliable information to brands and designers looking for the most sustainable and impactful resources at their disposal," said Andrew Olah, founder of Kingpins Show and the Kingpins Transformers summit series. "Weeks before Kingpins Amsterdam, the MSP team looks at our entire show roster and pre-selects MSP candidates. Then we discuss their products with them before the show and again during the show - and in this way are able to make a selection. We do this for each Amsterdam show. Our research is continual and we are open to hearing from any and all mills anytime - 24/7, 365 days a year - for new, sustainable products.”

The Kingpins MSP list for S/S 2021 is available here.




About Kingpins
The Kingpins Show is an invitation-only, boutique denim sourcing show featuring a highly-edited selection of vendors that include denim and sportswear fabric mills from the U.S., Japan, China, India, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Thailand, Spain and Mexico; wash houses; full package manufacturers; trim providers; and makers of technology, wash chemicals and business solutions. Kingpins, which launched in 2004, produces biannual shows in New York and Amsterdam, as well as annual shows in Hong Kong and China.

About Kingpins Most Sustainable Products
Kingpins MSP is a seasonal list compiled by an independent denim industry expert of the 10 most sustainable offerings found on the Kingpins Amsterdam show floor. Developed as a guide for buyers and brands searching for actionable and non-biased information regarding sustainable, transparent and environmentally-conscious products, new technologies and fabrications, and important developments made at the mill level. MSP launched in April 2019 with the F/W 2020 season.