Frankfurt, Germany - With a strong increase in the number of exhibitors and all indications suggesting that the new furnishing season will be a good one, Heimtextil starts in Frankfurt am Main. The globally-leading trade fair for home and contract textiles will present the world’s largest range of textile products, trends and new products from now until 15 January 2016. Top players in the international industry will present their wares in the newly extended exhibition space comprising 20 different hall levels.
Booming segments: digital printing, upholstery and decorative fabrics and mattresses
Theme Park: the interior design of tomorrow showcased in a spectacular way
Among the 2,866 (2015: 2,723 exhibitors) exhibitors are an increased number of European companies. Some firms that are returning after a year or several years’ break or coming to Heimtextil for the first time are also fuelling the growth in the number of exhibitors. ‘The high demand consolidates our position as the most important meeting place for the industry and proves that our positioning of Heimtextil is the right one’, says Detlef Braun, CEO of Messe Frankfurt. He also suggests that this reflects the current positive mood in the industry: ‘The increase in European exhibitors comprises mainly exhibitors from Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as Turkey. The number of exhibitors from Brazil and the USA has also grown’.
Martin Auerbach, Managing Director of the German Association of Home Textiles Manufacturers, emphasizes the value of home textiles, not only as a visible component of everyday life, but also for the textile market as a whole: ‘The over 700 companies in the German textile industry achieve an annual turnover of more than 11 billion euros with over 60 thousand
employees. With their turnover of approx. 3 billion euros, German manufacturers of home and house textiles are part of this important industry. And Heimtextil in Frankfurt is the world’s leading platform for them’.
A well-known guest at the opening of Heimtextil 2016 was the German actress Jessica Schwarz. Together with her sister, she runs the designer hotel “die träumerei” in the Odenwald region and was sponsor of a study commissioned by Heimtextil investigating the importance of home textiles in the upmarket hotel industry. Other well-known guests at this year’s Heimtextil include Nena, who has launched a new collection with Marburger Tapetenfabrik, and Guido Maria Kretschmer, who will present his wallpaper collection at Pickhardt + Siebert. Barbara Becker is also launching her own collection for the bathroom with Kleine Wolke.
Growth in décor and upholstery materials
It is not just the number of home textile exhibitors that has grown in 2016, but also the exhibition space. This is due in part to the expanded range of décor and upholstery materials on offer. The product segments “window” and “upholstery” have been expanded at Heimtextil 2016 on account of the huge demand. In addition to hall 3.0 and 4.1, they now also occupy a large area in hall 4.0. This means that at Heimtextil 2016, the wish of many renowned manufacturers to return to Heimtextil could be met, not least due to the new location of the “Theme Park” in hall 6.0.
The brand companies returning to Heimtextil in 2016 include Enzo Degli, Luilor, TEXAO, Marzotto Lab, Ratti Spa and Pozzi Arturo from Italy, as well as Libeco-Lagae, Verbatex and Annabel Textiles from Belgium and Penelope from Turkey.
New market opportunities with digital printing
Another highlight of hall 4.0 and Heimtextil is the “digital print” area. Digital printing is one of the most important growth segments in the industry. This is also reflected in the newly expanded exhibition space at Heimtextil 2016. Global top companies such as Epson, Hewlett Packard and Kornit will present their digital printing innovations on a surface area of over 1000 square metres.
Mattress offer almost doubled
Heimtextil has strengthened its offer in the segment of mattresses, bedding and bed systems. Renowned new exhibitors and returning companies present new products related to sleeping. The product “bed” incorporates an expanded offer comprising the segments bed linen, bedding, covers, decorative pillows and mattresses.
Heimtextil welcomes back the well-known returning exhibitors Rössle & Wanner und f.a.n. Frankenstolz. Rössle & Wanner return to Heimtextil with a special exhibition after a break of over 10 years. In Galleria 1, the company presents a variety of themes under the brand Röwa. This includes a historical exhibition, as well as innovations and products from sustainable production and interesting concepts for the POS.
Overall, the surface area for mattresses will be almost doubled at Heimtextil 2016. In halls 8 to 11, trade visitors can find out about the whole range of textiles for the product area “bed”. Manufacturers present optimal combinations of bed covers, pillows, bed linen, mattresses and bed systems. The sleeping campaign in Galleria 0 also informs visitors about the themes “good sleeping” and “changing sleeping habits throughout life”.
Sustainability: a must for the industry
Saving resources and adhering to social standards are becoming increasingly important in textile interior design. Heimtextil has long focused on this topic. The exhibitor catalogue “Green Directory” provides a direct link to selected suppliers of sustainability produced materials.
In order to continue strengthening the “green” textile market and act as a point of orientation and trailblazer, Heimtextil offers sustainable companies a forum, puts resource-saving products in the spotlight and invites visitors to take part in an accompanying event programme. In the “Green Village”, the expert centre for sustainability, visitors have the opportunity to talk to certifiers and quality seal awarders and get professional advice. For 2016, the Village is situated in its new location of hall 8.0. The “Green Café” there also entices visitors with its sustainable products. In the neighbouring “Speaker’s Corner”, visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of presentations and talks on the two “Sustainability Days”, 13 and 14 January.
The sustainability expert Max Gilgenmann will take interested trade fair guests on a “Green Tour” around Heimtextil and to selected exhibitors, thereby giving them an insight into the current developments in the green segment.
“Theme Park”: an insight into the interior design of tomorrow In line with key theme “Well-Being 4.0”, visitors to the Heimtextil “Theme Park” will experience the latest developments in the world of textile design, which are presented in an intensive and emotional way in hall 6.9. As the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil has a special function as a barometer for trends and measure of quality textiles with design and innovative functionality. Every year, the Trendtable panel made up of international players in the industry evaluates the most important general trends and supplies furnishers, designers, product developers and creative teams with valuable orientation as well as reliable trend statements. These are showcased in the “Theme Park”.
The new design themes are presented under the motto “Well-Being 4.0” and are dominated by a holistic approach that reintroduces a human touch to the design and puts a greater spotlight on the senses. “Well-Being 4.0” describes textile furnishing worlds that invite people to feel good and create an oasis of calm. Everything is directed at establishing a better life and greater well-being. Technology and knowledge that form a symbiosis with textile materials play an important role in this. The “4.0” aspect is based on the term “industry 4.0” and stands for smart, digital and individual solutions. To accompany the “Theme Park”, Heimtextil offers a programme of presentations featuring renowned design experts.
Contract Creations: specialist offer for hoteliers, architects and planners
More than 350 of the Heimtextil exhibitors from across the world will present their portfolio under the “Contract Creations” seal. An overview of these contract suppliers is given in the Contract Guide, which is available free of charge in the exhibition centre. Signets with the inscription “Contract Creations” will make it easy for visitors to find the companies listed in the guide on the exhibition site itself.
The contract offer comprises not only a unique variety of materials and suppliers, but visitors can also look forward to an exciting mixture of new trends and experienced partners to help them implement their ideas and projects. Trade fair tours and a programme of presentations especially for hoteliers and architects will provide valuable input. The “Theme Park” also gives a special insight into the future of the “Hospitality” segment, showcasing exciting and visionary ideas. As a cooperation partner of the Finest Interior Award 2015, Heimtextil honours particularly individual and professional contract furnishing ideas by interior architects, interior designers and furnishers. Some of the winning exhibits will be presented in a special show in hall 11.0. The “Salon Interior. Architecture. Hospitality” in Foyer 4.0 acts as an initial point of contact and meeting place for architects and hoteliers.
Heimtextil goes City
The “Heimtextil goes City” promotion will bring Heimtextil trends to the city centre for the twelfth time. In cooperation with the Decorator’s and Upholsterer’s Guild, a total of 19 specialist shops, galleries and public institutions will present new materials, on-trend colours and designs to end consumers. Due to the new schedule of Heimtextil, the promotion will take place on the day after the trade fair for the first time this year, on Saturday 16 January from 10am to 5pm.
Source: Messe Frankfurt