#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.”

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.

ISKO brings conscious color, texture, and tactile evolution to Bluezone Munich

At Bluezone ISKO is debuting its FW 27–28 Collection, structured around a trio of core sensory pillars: color, texture, and touch. This season, the textile leader showcases a creative vision where emotional connection and advanced technical innovation come together. The entire range is anchored by a dedicated commitment to eco-conscious material creation, utilizing patented processing technologies and high-quality Next-Gen materials powered by RE&UP.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.