#Denim

2026-10-29

Catalyst Club connects fashion industry leaders and emerging talent at Kingpins Amsterdam

Following its debut in Florence, Catalyst Club hosted its second networking event during the Kingpins Show in Amsterdam, bringing together international fashion and denim industry representatives to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Catalyst Club is an initiative created for the fashion and denim industry, designed as a “real-life social network” that encourages personal interaction beyond traditional business meetings. The concept aims to connect professionals from across the textile supply chain, including manufacturers, brands, buyers and emerging talents, providing an informal setting for discussions and potential partnerships.

Following its debut in Florence last June at Soko’s headquarters, the club held its second event in Amsterdam during the Kingpins Show, an international meeting point for the denim industry. Each edition takes place in an unconventional location, with the Amsterdam gathering hosted at the historic Molen Van West. Featuring a windmill dating back to 1631, the venue represents part of Amsterdam-West’s industrial heritage and provided a distinctive setting for the evening.

Bringing the industry together

The event attracted participants from different segments of the international fashion and denim industry. Matteo Urbini, CEO of Soko, which sponsored the event, and Vivian Wang, CEO of Kingpins Show, the event partner, welcomed the guests and emphasised the importance of personal connections and open dialogue outside conventional business environments.

Matteo Urbini, CEO of Soko, explained the idea behind the initiative: “We wanted to create an event capable of sparking sincere dialogue. The intention is to offer a space where people can connect naturally and realize that every single conversation can become the catalyst for real change across the entire industry.”

Industry leaders share advice for the next generation

One of the central elements of the evening was a roundtable discussion focusing on the next generation of fashion and textile professionals. Participants from different stages of the supply chain, including manufacturing and brands, addressed the question: “If you were a catalyst for a young mind entering our industry today, what would be your top DO’S and DON'TS for them?”

The discussion provided an opportunity for experienced industry representatives to share practical advice, personal experiences and perspectives on career development, collaboration and the future of the sector.

With its emphasis on personal interaction and cross-industry dialogue, Catalyst Club aims to encourage new connections and facilitate the exchange of ideas that could contribute to the future development of the fashion and denim industry.

Blue Jeans Go Green celebrates 20 years of denim recycling with more than six million items collected

Cotton Incorporated is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Blue Jeans Go Green™ denim recycling program. Since its launch in 2006, the initiative has collected more than six million denim items, diverted over 3,000 tons of textile waste from landfills and enabled the production of more than 12 million square feet of denim-based insulation. What began as a college campus collection drive has developed into a nationwide recycling initiative involving consumers, retailers, schools and community organisations across the United States.

Jeanologia and BCome connect factory data with Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passports

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Inside the Making connects denim and sportswear supply chains at Ecomondo 2026

Six European companies are joining forces at Ecomondo 2026 in Rimini to demonstrate how different stages of denim and sportswear production are interconnected. The new initiative, Inside the Making, highlights the importance of cooperation across the textile supply chain in addressing sustainability challenges, from reducing resource consumption to improving transparency and the reliability of environmental claims.

Lenzing improves profitability as strategic transformation gains momentum

The Lenzing Group reported improved operating profitability in the first nine months of 2026 despite declining revenue and a challenging market environment. Revenue decreased by 2.3 percent to EUR 1.93 billion, while adjusted EBITDA remained stable at EUR 353 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased from 17.9 percent to 18.3 percent, reflecting progress in the company's strategic transformation under its “Grow Nonwovens. Reset Textiles.” strategy.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris marks 30th anniversary with a redesigned exhibition concept

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