KINGPINS ’25

Kingpins Amsterdam has got to be one of the most inspiring and innovative trade shows for the fashion industry out there, it is always a who’s who of the great and the good from the denim world, and we always look forward to exhibiting some of our archive at the show.

 

We spend alot of time playing with ideas and concepts as we go through the collection, looking to create something inpsirational for the show visitors. For this Kingpins show we presented A Shimmering Sun Fade, an exhibition of vintage and denim, which we hope is a fitting visual tribute to the work and wardrobe of one of my favourite 20th Century artists Jackson Pollock, who also use to rock a mean denim wardrobe.

 

Our title plays on the name of Jackson Pollock’s masterpiece Shimmering Substance. His first significant work in a non-representation, abstract style. The work is discribed as “glowing in the brilliant light of the midday sun”. We have also were facinated by a curious term “Pollock sun fade”. This refers to how the colours and reflective elements in some of his works can diminish in brightness or shift over time when exposed to sunlight – much like the way that indigo fades on denim, often creating abstract patterns on garments from how they have been folded or exposed.

 

Ever since Vogue featured models in ball gowns in front of Pollock’s paintings in 1951, fashion has drawn on his work. A myriad of designers have referenced Pollock’s work over the years, including Alexander McQueen, Raf Simons, Dior and more.

For those that missed the show these beautiful pieces will be back in our Showroom from next week and available to view, purchase or hire. Email for an appointment: dmg@thevintageshowroom.com.

 

For our North American friends we will be bringing a developed version of this collection over to the Kingpins show in New York in Janaury 2026. We are particularly excited by this as New York was Pollock’s home throughout much of his adult life. It was also in New York that his work famously transitioned to abstract expressionism.

 

Huge thanks as always to Vivian Wang and the amazing Kingpins Show Team as always!