#Denim

2023-04-27

Levi Strauss & co. appoints Kenny Mitchell as chief marketing officer of the Levi’s® brand

Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE: LEVI) today announced the appointment of Kenny Mitchell as senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Levi’s® brand, effective June 5. Reporting to Michelle Gass, president, Levi Strauss & Co., Mitchell will be responsible for advancing the Levi’s® brand’s consumer marketing strategies, focused on building denim leadership equity, cementing its position as a true lifestyle brand and growing market share.

Proven marketing leader with brand-building expertise brings expanded consumer engagement focus to the Levi’s® brand

“Kenny is widely recognized as an innovative marketing leader and talent builder, with an impressive track record of growing global brands and pioneering digital marketing strategies to accelerate value creation,” Gass said. “It is especially fitting to have someone of his exceptional caliber join our Levi’s® team in this milestone year, further positioning us for long-term growth and operational success as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 501® jean and the 170th year of the company’s founding. With Kenny onboard, I have full confidence in our ability to continue earning our place at the center of culture and building our global community of Levi’s® fans.”

Mitchell brings more than 20 years of brand-building experience in the U.S. and internationally, in addition to deep digital, creative and innovation expertise. He joins Levi Strauss & Co. from Snap, parent company of Snapchat, where he has served since 2019 as chief marketing officer and led the growth of the platform’s global community, advertising base and developer partners. Prior to this, Mitchell was vice president of brand content and engagement for McDonald’s USA, where he established the company’s strategic brand and consumer marketing agenda. He also served as head of consumer engagement at Gatorade (PepsiCo), implementing strategies that supported record revenue and profit growth. Among his numerous awards and distinctions for marketing excellence, he was named one of “The Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company and has been included as an innovative leader in Forbes CMO NEXT and AdWeek 50 rankings. Mitchell holds an MBA and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Dartmouth College and is a member of the Board of Directors for e.l.f. Beauty.

“I am thrilled to join a values-led company like LS&Co. and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside their enormously talented teams to help expand the reach and strength of the Levi’s® brand,” Mitchell said. “I have long admired the enduring global relevance of Levi’s® as both a quintessential apparel brand and cultural icon. It is an honor to be part of shaping the future of the greatest story ever worn.”

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

Eastman Naia™ debuts at Kingpins Amsterdam, transforming Denim from the inside out

At Kingpins Amsterdam (April 15–16, 2026), Naia™ by Eastman Chemical Company makes its debut, presenting its approach to circularity and comfort in denim at Stand 1, Ground Level (Blue Area). The brand also highlights its growing global ecosystem, connecting mill partners, designers and brands working to expand denim possibilities through fiber innovation.

ISKO introduces a new chapter of denim innovation at Kingpins Amsterdam with FW 27/28

At Kingpins Amsterdam, ISKO presents its latest FW27/28 collection, a forward-looking exploration of denim that merges advanced color technologies, innovative fabric engineering, and contemporary finishing techniques. Designed to meet the evolving demands of the industry, the collection reflects ISKO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of authenticity, performance, and responsible innovation, while also embracing a strong lifestyle perspective.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Savio Macchine Tessili will exhibit at ITM Istanbul 2026 presenting its flagship technologies

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder.

Rieter at ITM 2026: Spinning Redefined with Automation and Intelligence

Spinning mills need solutions that deliver stability, efficiency and future-proof performance. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. These innovations give customers the tools to enhance cost efficiency, improve responsiveness and actively develop their competitive edge. Step-by-step, Rieter is moving closer to its Vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill. With each new technology, Rieter enables spinning mills worldwide to operate with greater precision and reliability, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an increasingly demanding global market.