Kingpins in Delhi, steals the show

They came they saw and they were won over. The maiden Kingpins Show held in Delhi on April 27 and 28 has left a very positive impression both among the participants and the invitees. Indeed, this is the first time that a niche boutique show

like this has been organized in India. And the context was just right, especially since India is one of the top denim producers with about around 600 million meters being produced per annum. What’s more, experts say the market for denim is growing at around 12 per cent CAGR and by 2020 India’s denim capacity could be well over 1.2 billion meters per annum. Given this, a niche event like the Kingpins Show does augur well with most top denim players across the value chain.

And the list of exhibitors was very impressive with about 18 to 19 top players in the segment in attendance. Invista, the global fiber producer known for their brand Lycra and the show’s sponsor put up an impressive stall. As Jean T Hegedus, Global Marketing Director-Bottoms, Invista says “We see this as a great opportunity to help different members of the denim value chain. As a fiber supplier we work across the chain and it allows us to have a perspective. We are developing products to meet the needs of the value chain.” Very optimistic about the maiden show she felt it was a positive participation both in terms of quality of products on display and the visitors. “For the first show it’s very impressive and participation is better than some of the earlier shows in other locations,” she opined.

No wonder, Andrew Olah of Olah Inc, the Founder and brain behind the Kingpins Show was a happy man, for the response to the maiden India event surely impressed him. “This show is different since it has an informal feel about it. Buyers and exhibitors interact in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s intimate and we want to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. And this time I feel we have achieved that first step.” After tasting success in Delhi, Olah has another show lined up for Bangalore later this year. “Holding the first show in Delhi was simply because a lot of brands are here, Bangalore is our next stop since a lot of manufacturers are there,” he avers. Many enthusiasts have even suggested Olah should organized pop-up shows a few times a year in India.

Aamir Akhtar, CEO-Denim Fabrics a first time participant at Kingpins Show felt it was good start and will build up after a few seasons, “India does not have denim specific shows and this is a serious promotion platform where we are showcasing our premium range. Most exhibitors have come with limited fashion forward and design forward products. What’s great is that all top brands both international and domestic are here as also are opinion and decision makers. So that makes it a good platform.”

For Kg Denim, a top Indian denim player this was the second Kingpins Show they were exhibiting at, the first being in New York, January 2011. AS Gopinath, GM, Denim Sales explains, “Surely the New York show was different and we did establish a lot of contacts with US-based buyers.”Active in the denim space for over 10 years, Kg Denim has a long list of customers and most of them showed up at the Delhi show. “We showcased our spring/summer ’12 line and it has generated a lot of interest both among brands and garment exporters. We are happy with the response. Some buyers have already started the sampling process,” he said. On show for the S/S ’12 were fabrics in 100 per cent cotton with a lot of stretch in pure indigo, blue over blue, coated fabrics and different washes. He is now looking forward to the Bangalore show. That’s not all, depending on the response to the New York show that they last attended, Gopinath may even exhibit at Kingpins Shanghai and Hong Kong shows.

For ISKO Denim the top global denim maker from Turkey the Delhi show was the first. “We go to limited shows and this is the first time for us. We are expecting new customers. We are new in India and wanted to see if we are missing out on customers. We did find new players like designers etc, who have shown interest,” says Omer Aksoy, Sales Specialist at ISKO. For Mafatlal Denim, the show augured well. “Its vibrant, and the number of visitors is overwhelming. From big brands like Levi’s, Benetton, VFS to buying houses, international buyers, exporters everyone is here. And the going has been good. In fact, a big brand has shortlisted products from our collection S/S 12 collection which will culminate into orders,” says Rajiv Dayal, MD, Mafatlal Denims.

Upbeat about the mood, Olah summed up “India is where the action is in denim. I am a big lover of the jeans lifestyle and love to participate in a show and market where it’s growing.”