How the Industry is Remembering Kingpins’ Miguel Sanchez
Miguel Sanchez died on Dec. 1 at the age of 62 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and the denim world is remembering his knowledge, kindness and impact on the industry.
Most recently, Miguel was technology leader at Kingpins Show, a role that involved determining the authenticity of exhibitors’ sustainability claims. Among his contributions was the Transformers Transparency Tool, launched earlier this year, which helps mills measure the environmental impact across their operations. He was also among the minds that envisioned the Transformers Foundation, Kingpins Show’s platform dedicated to moving the industry in a better direction, and he sat on the organization’s board of directors.
Speaking about his work on Transformers Foundation to Carved in Blue, Miguel said, “It is highly motivating to work for an organization that aims to coordinate the scattered efforts of a very innovative industry, from fiber to garment at the point of sale, and so becoming a unified voice for other partners in the fashion/denim segment…It is also satisfying to support the different educational and communication activities fostered by the foundation, intended for all around the denim world—from students in high schools to top professionals.”
Prior to joining Kingpins Show, Miguel worked in dye and chemicals. While at chemical firm Clariant (which eventually sold its textile chemicals business to Archroma) he worked on the launch of the indigo alternative Advanced Denim.
“Miguel’s roles were many: a dedicated board member of the Transformers Foundation, the innovative technology lead at Kingpins, a skilled engineer, a profound chemist, and an unparalleled expert in denim,” wrote Transformers Foundation in a statement on LinkedIn. “Beyond his professional achievements, he was a mentor, a teacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and so much more.
“Miguel’s legacy extends far beyond his work, touching the lives of friends, family, colleagues, and countless individuals whom he inspired and guided,” the foundation added. “We will miss Miguel deeply.”
In a tribute on Kingpins’ website, Andrew Olah wrote, “Miguel was a very special human, so wildly smart and engaged, both generous and kind…Our industry will miss him because no one else in the industry is willing, or even able, to do what Miguel did for so many of us. What we must do is try to remember his passion for our jeans world, and his natural inclination to be kind to everyone and share entirely without hesitation.”
Condolences are pouring in from across the industry, which you can read here, including thoughts from Carved in Blue’s current and past team.
When asked what he loved most about the denim world, Miguel told Carved in Blue, “It’s a kind of family. Denim is, of course, global. It’s probably the only truly global fashion. It’s everywhere…Everybody’s wearing denim. But the people around the denim world, the people producing denim, developing denim, is a really, really small community compared to the volume of garments that are produced every year, which is around 4 billion articles a year.
“So, for me, this spirit of meeting people who are very friendly and remember you is very good,” he continued. “It’s kind of injecting energy in your body. For me, it’s the feeling of being in the right place with the right people.”
Watch Transformers Foundation’s video remembrance of Miguel below.