Successful start to the new furnishing season
A at Heimtextil from 9 to 12 January. Urban design in the context of architecture and the hotel industry became the top topic of the international trade fair for home and contract textiles.
“With growth on both the visitor and exhibitor side, Heimtextil has convinced across the board and underpinned its unique position as a world-leading trade fair,” says Detlef Braun, CEO of Messe Frankfurt. Around 70,000 visitors, including representatives from the retail and wholesale trade, interior decorators, design, architecture and interior design, the hotel industry and industry, benefited from the fair’s unique range of products and inspiration.
For the eighth time in a row, the trade fair increased the number of participating companies; these now total 2,975 international exhibitors. In addition to global market leaders and industry leaders, Heimtextil also provided an international platform for more than 50 young designers and start-ups with its newcomer programme “New & Next”. One of the focal points of the trade fair was contract furnishing and the associated focus on the target group of architects and property planners. “For us it was a fantastic trade fair première,” says Tom Puukko, Owner of the wallpaper manufacturer Feathr from Finland. “We were able to generate new and excellent contacts from all parts of the world. A special highlight for us was a group of architects who stopped by our stand, enabling us to present our products to them.”
Celebrity guests up close
And the glamour factor was also once again present at Heimtextil. Barbara Schöneberger for TapetenfabrikGebr. Rasch and “die Maus” for P+S International presented their first wallpaper collections. Enie van de Meiklokjes and Alexander Herrmann enriched the DecoTeam’sprogramme with workshops. And Laura Chaplin, granddaughter of the world-famous comedian, as brand ambassador for the Cotton made in Africa label, drew attention to the use of sustainable cotton in the textile industry.
Architecture meets textile design
With a first-rate lecture programme, topic-specific guided tours and a prominent presentation area, namely the new Interior Architecture. Hospitality Expo in hall 4.2, Heimtextil expanded its commitment to textile contract furnishings, and with great success. Numerous architects and interior designers, hoteliers and furnishers took advantage of the diverse information and networking opportunities. “I considered a visit to Heimtextil as a valuable incentive for my work, i.e. for the interior furnishings and design of shops and restaurants at the airport. I was able to make interesting contacts and discover exciting, very high-quality products,” says Jun-Florian Peine, Project Manager Retail Development Fraport AG.
In the immediate vicinity of the new area, carpet suppliers were able to present themselves as part of a joint presentation by the Association of German Home Textiles Manufacturers (Heimtex) entitled “Carpet by Heimtex.” Volker Knieß, responsible for International Sales at Toucan-T, drew a positive conclusion: “We found the new concept of a joint presentation interesting and are very satisfied with how the fair went. With the main focus on acoustics, flexibility and design, we appeal particularly to the architects who we encounter here at Heimtextil. The guided tours for architects in particular bring us into contact with this target group and open up interesting contacts for us.”
New concept 2019
Based on discussions with exhibitors and visitor surveys, Messe Frankfurt has developed a new Heimtextil concept for 2019. “From the perspective of buyers in particular, we are repositioning Heimtextil 2019 and grouping themes and product groups according to target groups. In this way, synergies can be better recognised and exploited,” says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. In addition, the demand for stand space on the exhibitor side has grown sharply in some product groups in recent years. The opportunity to optimise the concept is not least due to major construction measures currently being implemented at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition site: The new hall 12 will be erected on the Western side of the site and will be available to Heimtextil for the first time in 2019. Further structural measures are to follow around halls 5 and 6.The next Heimtextil, international trade fair for home and contract textiles, will be held in Frankfurt from 8 to 11 January 2019.
Heimtextil “Theme Park”
“The future is urban” was the title of this year’s Heimtextil “Theme Park”. Both the large trend area in hall 6.0 and the presentations by the exhibitors impressively showed that whether at home, at the office or in a hotel – people want to and should feel comfortable where they live and work. The omni present Hygge zeitgeist was represented in the form of harmoniously coordinated styles and colours. Trends and innovations in the individual product groups:
“Bed”: Stylish bedding
Enjoying stylish living comfort is, of course, also of top priority for humans. Brands such as Biberna, Bierbaum, Home Flavours, Kas, Schiesser, Strenesse and Tom Taylor met the desire for new bed linen in the latest design trends with their new products. At the very forefront are coherent colour worlds of powdery nude, lilac, rose or petrol tones, finely balanced with black, graphite and natural nuances. The prints are dominated by flowers, leaves, birds and butterflies. In amongst these, the precursors to the new range of trendy colours appear in the form of bright turquoise, salmon, denim and meadowlark. By the way: The days are finally over when sets are all required to have the same motif. Matching designs in an exciting mix create variety. Smart pillows provide for a healthy awakening. These are connected to your mobile phone and initiate the waking phase to ensure you get the right kind of sleep.
“Bath”: Casual spa feeling
After getting up, you can start the day relaxed. The Möve towels and bathrobes in a stylishly woven jeans look – including seams and retro labels as well as matching accessories for bathrooms and toilets – look sophisticated and casual. Between the currently trendy compositions of pastels, dove and natural tones as well as black and white and indigo, bright salmon and mint are blinking through with increasing intensity at Joop and Kleine Wolke. Others like Vossen rely on sophisticated camouflage in olive and petrol. Structures and very highquality fabrics ensure the right spa feeling across all colour trends.
“Upholstery”: Textiles for breathing deeply
Healthy living and working remains one of the top themes in the furnishing and upholstery fabrics sector. Companies such as Drapilux and ATN, for example, each presented several new products that air-condition flats or dampen the sound. They are certified organic, waterproof and/or flame-retardant. The bottom line:Despite all the high-tech, the textiles still look very natural. This also applies to outdoor fabrics in linen, flannel or woven looks from TerMolst. When it comes to soft feel-good textiles for indoors, high quality wool is exploited to the full at Luidor. Dolce Vita combines natural fabrics with fresh colours for a bold mix and match with interesting structures and young ethno styles.
“Window”: Curtains up for discerning designs
Major brands such as Apelt, Deco Design Fürus, Gardisette, Neutex Home Deco and Sarlas Italia have implemented their innovations in the coherent, almost monochrome colour worlds of the season. The interplay of metallic shimmer, graphite and black with petrol, rosé or nude and natural shades is timeless, exquisite and relaxed, as is the mix of brass and transparency. The sophisticated designs impress with their structure and lightness, graphic sophistication, impulsive creativity and a touch of opulence. It becomes more colourful and lighter towards the summer with romantic meadow flowers and butterflies.
“Table”: Fresh compositions & stylish sets
Creating a completely new look in a relaxed and light manner is the USP of home textiles in the “table” area. To this end, Sander presents fresh compositions of mint, salmon, pink and red as well as stylish sets in indigo for spring. Motifs such as pineapple and pelican are essential by the time we get to summer. In between these, rainbow-coloured fish splash about and create a holiday feeling. Exquisite compositions in lilac and violet by JPF spread a little bit of castle ambience. And good news, not only for parents of small children: The good old wax tablecloth is celebrating a real comeback. Gemitex supplies stylish all-round worry-free sets including matching seat cushions for indoor and outdoor use.
