MK SONS Denim Research to Debut at Kingpins Amsterdam

New denim development and manufacturing practice will showcase its approach to fabric, fit, wash, construction and industrial production

MK SONS is set to introduce MK SONS Denim Research, a specialist denim development and manufacturing practice, at Kingpins Amsterdam on 14–15 October 2026 in the Green Area, T.

The new proposition has been developed within the MK SONS group over seven years. It combines the group's garment manufacturing capabilities with a specialist approach to denim development, covering fabric, fit, wash, construction, chemistry, wear and commercial viability before products move into industrial production.

Focus on Denim Development

MK SONS said the initiative was developed around the question of how the industrial discipline of an established garment manufacturer could be combined with the product knowledge and development approach associated with specialist denim studios.

At Denim Research, development is positioned as a discipline connecting design and manufacturing rather than simply an intermediate stage between the two.

The approach focuses on making key product decisions before production begins, with the aim of reducing development risks and reproducing validated decisions consistently at industrial scale.

This includes assessing the suitability of fabrics for specific washes, refining fits through additional iterations where required, testing product and finishing options, and validating finishes before volume production.

Connecting Development With Manufacturing

MK SONS Denim Research operates as a focused development and manufacturing platform within the wider MK SONS manufacturing organisation. According to the company, this structure allows the denim practice to operate as a specialist discipline while remaining connected to broader industrial manufacturing capabilities.

The company aims to address the gap between specialist denim product development and commercially viable manufacturing.

Specialist development can present challenges when moving to larger production volumes, while large-scale manufacturing may begin after key product decisions have already been made. Denim Research is designed to connect these stages by bringing development and industrial manufacturing capabilities together.

The platform covers areas including fabric selection, washes, fit and construction, while also considering price architecture, repeatability, delivery requirements and production economics.

For designers and product teams, the company positions the practice as a development partner that can address both product considerations and manufacturing requirements.

Debut at Kingpins Amsterdam

The first public presentation of MK SONS Denim Research will take place at Kingpins Amsterdam on 14–15 October 2026, where it will be located in the Green Area, T.

The company describes its objective as developing denim through a process that brings together observation, questioning, development, testing, validation and manufacturing.