Kingpins has pulled the plug on the April 22-23 show in Amsterdam due to the health concerns and travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus outbreak. The trade show notified exhibitors Friday evening by email.
“We have been monitoring this situation very closely and had been hoping to have the show go on, but in light of the travel restrictions our attendees and exhibitors are experiencing and the overarching concern for the health and safety of our community, we have no choice but to cancel Kingpins Amsterdam,” said Kingpins founder Andrew Olah.
The next Kingpins Amsterdam will take place Oct. 28-29.
The April edition was to take place at a new larger venue, SugarCity. Exhibitors and attendees will be contacted with further information regarding booth contracts and registrations. Kingpins Transformers: ED, a denim education event for students, is slated to take place in Amsterdam on April 24. However, organizers are reportedly considering turning it into a digital event.
Kingpins is following the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation to avoid nonessential traveling. Organizers say they are searching for solutions to help the denim industry stay in touch with customers and suppliers. “We cannot stop the world over this virus,” Olah said. “A total economic shutdown is not a realistic option for any of us although the earth is benefitting from less activity.”
Kingpins Amsterdam is the second show Kingpins organizers have canceled due to health and travel concerns related to the outbreak. In February, organizers announced the cancellation of the Kingpins Hong Kong show, originally slated for May 13-14.
Unrelated to the COVID-19 outbreak, Olah, a co-organizer of the Denim Days Festival, announced last week that it would not continue its New York City event in 2020. “We loved the experience of connecting our world—the global and domestic denim industry—to consumers,” Olah said. “Our passion for the denim industry is as strong as ever and we are excited to channel our energy to new denim projects in 2020.”
