Kingpins Show to Require Standards For Denim Supply Chain Members

Beginning with its April 2019 Kingpins Amsterdam Show, Kingpins will introduce the process of establishing future mandatory standards for its exhibitors that will include corporate social responsibility, chemicals and the environment.

NEW YORK [February 5, 2019] In 2019, as part of an ambitious program to improve excellence in the industry, Kingpins Show will begin the process of requiring all exhibiting denim mills to meet or exceed standards in the areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR), environment and chemical usage.

The standards program will initially be limited to the mills exhibiting in the Kingpins Amsterdam show. The first required standard will address CSR and Kingpins organizers will offer clear guidance and support to its exhibiting mills. As part of the process, Kingpins exhibitors will be engaged in open discussions about standards and expectations related to certifications across all designated categories.

Kingpins Show, which hosts denim supply chain shows in New York, Hong Kong, China and Amsterdam has found few denim suppliers have made serious efforts toward establishing CSR standards.

Kingpins believes that industry trade shows are in a position to simultaneously help the denim industry be more responsible and support brands and retailers choose best-in-class suppliers by requiring exhibitors to comply to the highest industry standards.

“For example, in social compliance we have found that virtually none of our denim mills have an SA 8000 certification or a WRAP certification - which is disappointing,” said Andrew Olah, founder of Kingpins Show and Kingpins Transformers. “We are unaware of any trade show where exhibitors are required to have any standards so Kingpins has decided to implement a new approach to make shows more than a window display.”

For exhibitors and attendees wishing to learn more about CSR, Kingpins will host a seminar at the upcoming Kingpins Amsterdam show presented by Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) and Social Accountability International (SAI) on April 11 at 1:30PM. Entitled “Does your Denim Mill Have Any Social Standards?” the seminar will focus on how denim mills can attain standards by 2020 and what that means to brands and retailers.

Rather than develop a new CSR standard program, Kingpins will review the many existing industry standards and certifications (SA8000, WRAP, BSCI, ETI, FLA, SEDEX-SMETA, etc.) and require its exhibitors to select one to implement.

“Kingpins is a very responsible organization and this a true responsible action,” commented Alberto Candiani, owner of Candiani Denim in Italy. “Such a strong commitment will guarantee all exhibitors and visitors much higher quality standards."

Once Kingpins as established its standard protocol, the organization will share all its information with other trade shows in the hopes that they use the standards criteria for their exhibitors as well.

“There will be much more to say in the future as we add new requirements for our exhibitors to meet,” said Olah.

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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 Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP):
Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA, with regional offices in Hong Kong, SAR, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, full-time staff in Europe, India and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia), and for Latin America, WRAP is an independent, objective, non-profit team of global social compliance experts dedicated to promoting safe, lawful, humane, and ethical manufacturing around the world through certification and education. WRAP certification is recognized by major brands and retailers throughout the world, including the biggest buyers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

About Social Accountability International (SAI):
Founded in 1997, Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global non-governmental organization advancing human rights at work. SAI’s vision is of decent work everywhere – sustained by an understanding that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights. SAI empowers workers and managers at all levels of businesses and supply chains, using its multi-industry SA8000® Standard, as well as Social Fingerprint®, TenSquared, and other training and capacity building programs. SAI is a leader in policy and implementation, working together with a diverse group of stakeholders, including brands, suppliers, governments, trade unions, non-profits, and academia.