This year’s Kingpins Show in Amsterdam – happening yesterday and today at SugarCity – has some unusual visitors scattered throughout the venue. Dressed in deadstock denim straight from Material Exchange’s Deadstock Showroom, these figures measure up to about 20 inches in height and may be found where you least expect them. As it turns out, the use of deadstock is multifaceted and is now on display in miniature form for all Kingpins Show attendees. 

This unique showcase of the excess materials that are deadstock has been made possible through the craftsmanship of Denim History’s Creative Director Mohsin Sajid. As the founder and mastermind behind denim brand and consultancy Endrime alongside his wife, Sadia Rafique, as well as founder of educational denim platform Denim History, it’s difficult to classify Sajid’s work into anything other than all things denim. Which is exactly why Material Exchange reached out to him to create these miniature versions of our human-sized Unwanted denim jackets launched at last summer’s Kingpins Show.    

“When you become a master of something, you miniaturize it,” says Sajid. “Designing outfits for dolls is one of the hardest things – you have to get the proportions right and it’s really hard to sew a tiny seam on a machine. It's a real art form.” 

Clocking in at about 45 minutes of labor per piece – and a total of 30 pieces – this project was no small task. But the message it’s sending to Kingpins attendees and beyond is an important one. 

“Material Exchange is solving a problem by helping to get rid of the deadstock fabrics,” says Sajid. “We’re not creating any more product, but we’re finding a solution by highlighting these amazing fabrics.” 

Since launching the Deadstock Depot last spring, Material Exchange has built up its Deadstock Showroom to include hundreds of deadstock denim fabrics from some of the top suppliers in the world. They’re compiled in one place alongside their spec sheets, making it simple for brands to compare materials, place an order, or even request a sample box – free of charge – and receive a few swatches delivered straight to their door. 

“It’s so important that the use of deadstock fabrics becomes standard practice in brands’ upcoming collections, whether they’re boutique designers or major brands,” says Material Exchange Chief of Strategy Ben Felton. “These playful figures are just another way we’re trying to get the word out about deadstock and the potential behind them.”  

That potential is certainly substantial: the estimated value of deadstock globally today is $288 billion. This excess inventory is most often sent to landfills or incinerated if it’s not used, and the opportunity for use has been limited – until now.  

Deadstock fabrics are available immediately, usually at reduced prices, and, since they already exist, are more sustainable than producing new materials. The denim deadstock that's found in Material Exchange's Deadstock Showroom is high-quality, durable, and just waiting to fulfill a designer’s vision.  

“What’s most exciting in the denim industry over the last 10 years or so is trying to make a pair of jeans in the most sustainable way,” says Saijd. “Denim is one of the worst polluting textiles out there. So we’re now trying to make products that will become circular. Deadstock helps us do it.”  

Check out our digital Deadstock Showroom here and view all of the fabrics available for your next line. These fabrics come in varying quantities and styles. Take a peek to see if one might be just what you’re after.   

View Deadstock Showroom 

And if you’re at the Kingpins Show right now, keep an eye out for our tiny friends who are trying to share the deadstock message with fashion professionals far and wide.