For the ninth time in a row, Heimtextil, which opened its doors in Frankfurt today, sees an increase in the number of exhibitors. “Despite the economic downturn, Heimtextil is continuing its extremely positive development. With 3,025 exhibitors from 65 countries, Heimtextil has a stronger and more international slant than it has had for 15 years,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt. “It is thus further consolidating its position as the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles.”

Heimtextil launches the 49th edition of its trade fair with a new concept and the top themes of architecture, hotels, sustainability and sleep. “As part of the fundamentally revised concept, we have combined themes and product segments in an even better way for specific target groups. Visitors can thus benefit from new synergies, shorter distances and lots of furnishing inspiration,” said Braun.

In addition to a globally unique design show with international market leaders, a high-calibre event programme with notable guests and renowned industry experts supports the four-day trade fair.

Structural change in German retail sector

Based on an IFH study, Heimtextil has published a new Management Report in cooperation with the trade fairs Ambiente, Tendence, Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld. It gives a current overview of structural change in the German retail sector. Domestic consumption increased online and offline in 2017 to EUR 595 billion (+4.2%). However, the perception in the stationary retail trade is that the clear winner is online retail. For many retailers, the time has come to rethink their business concepts as part of the march of digitalisation.

The route to success in this respect can be to use services and high-quality design in shops to turn shopping into an experience. At the same time, retailers are increasingly focusing on multi-channel concepts. Heimtextil supports retailers by offering innovative concept solutions for the point of sale and inspiration for experience-based business models.

Trends in a new guise

The inspirational heart of the fair is the new Heimtextil Trend Space in hall 3.0. With the title Toward Utopia, it provides a preview of the design developments of the 2019/20 season as conceived by London’s FranklinTill Studio and staged by the Frankfurt studio Markgraph. As part of the new Heimtextil concept, the design show will be in close proximity to international textile designers, CAD/CAM suppliers and digital printer manufacturers.

Everything for textile contract furnishing

As part of the Interior.Architecture.Hospitality Expo, Heimtextil is presenting solutions for textile contract furnishing in hall 4.2 that are individual, sustainable and functional, from textiles with acoustic function or special abrasion properties to modular carpets, sun protection and innovative wall coverings.

The offer is flanked by the presentation Carpet by Heimtex, a joint promotion by the Association of the German Home Textile Industry. Here, visitors can experience high-quality textile floor coverings by leading suppliers especially for the contract sector. With product presentations, lectures and guided tours, the offer in hall 4.2 provides valuable impetus and is supported and made possible by experienced industry partners.

Big lifestyle topic

Heimtextil is integrating the lifestyle theme of ‘sleep’ with an attractive expert programme: with the title Sleep! The Future Forum, a new information area in the foyer of hall 11.0 will highlight the themes of science and digital, sport, the hotel industry and sustainability during the four days of the fair.

Sustainability

Currently, the topic of water consumption in the textiles industry and, in particular, the problems of micro and ocean plastics are increasingly coming to the fore, driven by a first-time agreement reached 40 leading fashion companies, associations and organisations at the World Climate Conference in Katowice.

A number of Heimtextil exhibitors will also be presenting progressive solutions to this problem. Christian Fischbacher, for example, produces decorative and upholstery fabrics made from used PET bottles. Erfal also uses recycled PET bottles to produce sun protection systems. And MHZ tackles the issue of ocean plastic and uses it to produce the innovative Greenscreen Sea Tex fabric.

www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com