Don’t let the retail market fool you: Interest in the home and contract textiles market is stronger than ever as evidenced by the growing popularity in the Heimtextil trade show.

Taking place Jan. 7-10 in Frankfurt, Germany, Heimtextil has experienced exhibitor growth of more than 20 percent in the last 10 years, with much of this development coming from new international companies. Messe Frankfurt, producer of the show, anticipates as many as 3,000 exhibitors at this year’s event, which marks its 50th edition.

“International manufacturers rely on Heimtextil as an attractive platform for export business and as a trendsetting launch event where they can present their new season products at the start of the year,” said Olaf Schmidt, vice president of textiles and textile technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

The show is segmented into the following product areas:

Hall 3.1: Wall Decoration

This area presents buyers with an enormous range of wallpapers and wall coverings. Exhibitors include Erismann (Germany), Grandeco Wallfashion Group (Belgium), Komar (Germany), Eijffinger (the Netherlands), Marburger Tapetenfabrik (Germany) and Tapetenfabrik Gebr Rasch (Germany).

Hall 3.0: Textile Technologies

In addition to roughly 250 international textile designers, this area also hosts the Trend Space, which provides an overview of both recent market developments and Heimtextil trends for 20/21. Exhibiting digital printing and textile processing machine manufacturers include HP (Germany), Kornit (Germany), MS Printing Solutions (Italy), ZSK Stickmaschinen (Germany) and Joos (U.S.).

Hall 4: Decorative & Furniture Fabrics

Approximately 40 new exhibitors will take part in this area, including Dickson Constant (France), Leder Fiedler (Germany), Limonta (Italy), Maxpell (Italy) and Morgan Fabrics (U.S.).

Hall 4.2: Interior, Architecture, Hospitality Expo

This area presents furnishing solutions and specialist offers for contract furnishing. It also hosts a networking forum for interior designers, architects and hospitality experts.

Halls 6.0 & 6.2: Asian Selection

Textile companies will exhibit as individual companies and as part of country pavilions in this segment. Exhibitors include Vardhman Creations (India), Zhejiang Wall-Life Decoration (China) and Travancore Cocotuft (India).

Hall 6.1: Asian Excellence

High-end home textiles producers from Asia with export experience will exhibit in the Asian Excellence category, which includes furniture, decorative fabrics, curtains, sun protection and carpets. Akara, D Decor and G. M. Syntex, all from India, will be in this area.

Hall 8.0: Window & Interior Decoration

Curtains, decorative fabrics, carpets, interior sun protection and decorative systems will be presented here, as well as the new collections from textiles editors. Exhibitors include N.V. Wind (Belgium), Style Library (U.K.), Alfred Apelt (Germany), Erfal, Gardisette (Germany) and HECO Textilverlag (Germany).

Hall 9.0: Beautiful Living

Buyers will find lifestyle products including decorative cushions, blankets and bedspreads; table and kitchen linen; coated table coverings; and doormats and other home accessories. Exhibitors include Bellavia Ricami (Italy), OneOff (Italy), Magma Heimtex Sander (Germany), Blyco (the Netherlands), Eskitex (Switzerland), Auskin Europe (Germany), Hinterveld (South Africa), Silkeborg Uldspinderi (Denmark), Tiseco (Belgium) and Sprügel Hometex (Germany).

Halls 10, 10.1, 10.3: Asian Selection

Products from Asian manufacturers for bathrooms, beds and tables will be found here, and the area will also include both country pavilions and individual exhibitors.

Hall 10.2: Asian Excellence

This area will include Asian manufacturers with first-rate home textile collections.

Hall 11.0: Smart Bedding

The Smart Bedding area will feature textile innovations for the bedroom from as many as 140 companies. New exhibitors include My Alpaca (Poland), Cinelli Piume e Piumini (Italy), Giuseppe Olmo (Italy) and the Textile Machinery Association (Sweden).

Hall 12: Bed & Bath Fashion (Brands)

Buyers will be able to browse the wares from exhibitors including Christian Fischbacher (Switzerland), H. W. Schmänk (Germany), Mirabello Carrara (Italy), Schlossberg (Switzerland), Essenza Home (the Netherlands), Vossen (Austria), Lexington (Sweden) and Cawö Textil (Germany).

Hall 12.1: Bed & Bath Fashion (Private Label)

This area will serve as a platform for the private-label business and the point of contact for large-volume buyers and industry representatives. Portuguese and Turkish manufacturers will be well represented.

Courtesy: Sourcing Journal