#Denim

2022-11-17

75 diamonds for 75 years: Wrangler® to auction custom belt buckle in support of next generation cowboy & cowgirl

Global denim icon Wrangler® announced today the digital auction of a one-of-one belt buckle hand-crafted by legendary buckle and jewelry company Montana Silversmiths®, which costs more than $40,000 in celebration of the brand’s diamond anniversary. Wrangler will donate 100% of all proceeds to Western Sports Foundation and Lead Changes, two independent non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting the western way of life.

All proceeds generated by the diamond-encrusted showpiece will benefit nonprofits focused on cultivating youth participation in the western lifestyle and sport of rodeo.

“Wrangler has drawn inspiration from the code of the west since its inception in 1947, and we couldn’t be more excited to honor our roots by working to preserve the culture and heritage of the great American cowboy,” said Allen Montgomery, vice president western and workwear – Wrangler. “We couldn’t think of a better finale to our 75th anniversary than working with two incredible organizations that are dedicated to empowering youth through embracing the power of the Cowboy Spirit."

Celebrating the beauty and originality of the buckle and the legends who represent the spirit of the west, a “Hands of Wrangler” photo series on @wrangler and @wranglernetwork social channels will highlight the buckle’s tour across the U.S. to meet iconic brand ambassadors of past and present, including Cody Johnson, JB Mauney, Leon Bridges and more.

With Wrangler celebrating 75 years, bidding opens today at a fitting $7,500 for the 6.34-carat buckle featuring 75 diamonds, yellow gold, blue topaz and sterling silver accents. Facilitated by WSMAuctioneers.com, a premier digital auction platform, the sale will support the missions of the selected charities, with earnings split evenly between the two.

For Western Sports Foundation and Lead Changes, in-person training events and camps play a significant role in connecting young people with the values and lifestyle of the west. Proceeds from this charitable auction will help facilitate these touchpoints and continue cultivating well-rounded cowboys and cowgirls for the future.

The auction will be live through December 30, 2022, at 5 p.m. and the winner will be announced in January 2023. To learn more about the Wrangler 75th Anniversary diamond belt buckle, visit WSM.com and wranglernetwork.com.

Kontoor Brands announces USD300 Million share repurchase program

Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB), a global lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee®, today reported that the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $300 million of the Company’s common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaces the existing share repurchase program announced on August 5, 2021.

Archroma expands denim possibilities at Kingpins Amsterdam

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, will present a portfolio of six sustainable denim innovations at Kingpins Amsterdam from April 15-16, 2026. Under the theme “Creating Possibilities in Denim”, the showcase reflects Archroma’s commitment to giving brands and mills solutions that are as commercially compelling as they are environmentally responsible.

Jeanologia launches Billy

The new AI extracts precise laser designs from a garment image in minutes, transforming how vintage denim is recreated for production. If Jeanologia’s laser changed the way jeans were made at the end of the last century, its AI now takes the next step: moving from reproducing wear to designing it. / archive photo © 2026 Jeanologia

RE&UP partners with Madewell and ISKO on textile-to-textile denim capsule

RE&UP Recycling Technologies is accelerating the shift toward a closed-loop textile economy through a collaboration with American denim brand Madewell and global fabric manufacturer ISKO. By transforming approximately 20,000 pairs of post-consumer jeans into recycled feedstock for a textile-to-textile denim capsule, RE&UP demonstrates the commercial viability of circular systems in the denim sector.

Sedo Treepoint will exhibit smart technologies for technical textile production

As technical textile production becomes increasingly complex and sustainability requirements intensify, digital integration is evolving from an efficiency tool into a strategic task. At Techtextil 2026 (April 21–24, Frankfurt am Main), Sedo Treepoint will present smart digital systems designed to address the demanding production environments of technical textile manufacturing. The company’s focus will be on practical technologies that enhance process transparency, reproducibility, and efficient resource use. Visitors will meet Sedo Treepoint in Hall 12, Booth D05.

ITM presents cutting-edge textile research at Techtextil

From April 21 to 24, 2026, the Chair of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TUD Dresden University of Technology will be presenting its current research at Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. In Hall 12.0, Stand D41, the team will be demonstrating how it combines high-performance fibers, AI-supported digital development tools and innovative machine technologies to develop textile solutions for lightweight construction, construction, medical technology and sustainable production from atom to product.

CHT Group to showcase intelligent specialty chemical solutions at Techtextil 2026

At this year's Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, the CHT Group will be presenting its comprehensive portfolio of tailor-made specialty chemicals and process solutions for technical textiles. As a reliable partner to the global textile industry, the company offers innovative products and in-depth technical expertise across all areas of the textile value chain – from pretreatment, dyeing, and printing to finishing, coating, and fiber auxiliaries.