Even though visitor footfall dropped at Heimtextil this year on account of its early date and the many challenges faced by the global textile industry, the show provided deep insights into trends, innovations and how sustainable manufacturing needs to be the prime goal
With a content-driven programme, the 50th edition of Heimtextil delivered strong impetus for the start of the new furnishing season. Sustainability occupied a prime spot on the agenda, outshining all other topics. As many as 63,000 visitors gathered information about the major themes dominating the international industry from 2,952 exhibitors at the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles. However, as expected, the unusually early date led to a drop in visitor numbers. “The industry is currently facing huge challenges. And some of those taking part at Heimtextil have really felt this. However, exhibitor satisfaction has remained at the same high levels as last year,” said Detlef Braun, CEO, Messe Frankfurt.
In fact, visitor satisfaction, according to the organisers, increased from 93% to 95%. In addition to the early date, the reasons behind the reduced visitor numbers could be attributed to strong consolidation of specialist shops and developments in the stationary retail trade in the direction of e-commerce. “The trend has also experienced an economic slowdown,” said Braun. “This is in line with the fact that as many as 34% of our exhibitors rate the current economic situation in the sector as poor, compared with just 18% the year before,” he added.
Industry-Focused Content
This year’s edition of Heimtextil offered the richest event programme in its history: over 150 lectures and panel discussions, 30 guided tours of the trade fair, and numerous other programme events supplied inspiration in relation to the most exciting new products and encouraged exchanges between representatives of industry and trade, design, interior architecture and hospitality. Above all, the highly frequented ‘Trend Space’ with its unique trend showcase provided important industry content that was absolutely in line with the times.
“Inquisitive traders who make a difference in the market and keep up with the times are gathering inspiration for the new season here in Frankfurt. As the world’s biggest trade fair, Heimtextil is of existential importance for our industry. No other trade fair offers such a wealth of information,” said Ottmar Ihling, spokesman for the DecoTeam, drawing a positive conclusion for the Association of German Home Textile Suppliers. “We had a great number of visitors to the DecoTeam with good and high-quality customers and delegations from large companies,” he added.
Peter Gumbel, General Manager, Aro Artlaender, was also pleased with the outcome of the trade fair and said that the visitor profile at Heimtextil has changed to incorporate more international buyers. “We had good interaction with all our regular customers who visited our booth as also many new potential ones. Although the German specialist trade was somewhat lacking, as far as exports are concerned, it was a very good turnout. Compared to the scenario 15 years ago, buyer delegations have certainly become a little smaller, but the decision-makers are still at Heimtextil – they may spend a little less time here, but they come with very concrete plans,” he said.
High on Sustainability
For the first time, the United Nations Office for Partnerships presented the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Heimtextil and invited industry participants to take part in an intensive dialogue. “Heimtextil was the next step on our tour to present the SDGs in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network and the Conscious Fashion Campaign. The United Nations Office for Partnerships welcomes and appreciates the innovative work of the exhibitors and the variety of sustainable textiles presented at Frankfurt. The feedback at our booth and the discussions were extraordinary,” said Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office at UNOP, and guest of honour at the Heimtextil inauguration press conference.
“Together with Messe Frankfurt and the Conscious Fashion Campaign, UNOP welcomes the opportunity to reach a broad and professional audience and raise awareness of the goals and galvanise support,” she added. There was one clear message at the show – whether start-up or traditional company, no manufacturer will be able to avoid environmentally friendly materials and production processes in 2020. Even big names are placing value on textiles made of certified materials and avoiding plastic packaging.
For instance, the Krefeld-based company Deco Design Fürus with its ‘Ocean Safe’ brand is one of the pioneers in the field of recycling management. “Heimtextil 2020 was an exceptionally successful trade fair for us. The many discussions we have had here have made it very clear that our customers can now distinguish very clearly between green-washing and cradle-to-cradle recycling,” commented Manuel Schweizer, CEO, Deco Design Fürus.
Architecture, Hospitality and Sleep
As another top theme, Heimtextil focused on the furnishing of hotels and public buildings. Around 370 companies specialising in contract business and the new ‘Interior, Architecture, Hospitality Library’ illustrated the diverse properties of functional textiles and provided interior designers and hospitality experts, in particular, with new solutions. ‘We try to view textiles as an architectural element. As such, they give us the creative freedom to freely design various types of rooms: entrance, zones of well-being, guidance systems, etc. And places that make you want to linger awhile,” said Fokke Moerel of MVRDV, an architecture firm.
“This is where the new materials on show at Heimtextil offer enormous flexibility,” he added. An even greater reception was enjoyed by ‘Sleep! The Future Forum’ with which Heimtextil provided concentrated know-how on all aspects of sleeping and amazing product innovations in the area of sleeping systems, bedding and bed linen. Here too, experts dealt with the question of the challenges manufacturers face if they want to operate and produce sustainably.
The panel discussion on securing the future of the next generations and sustainable strategies for manufacturers and retailers was one of the highlights of the four-day programme. It presented practical examples from Lenzing, Vossen and IKEA and introduced the new state-run ‘Grüner Knopf’ textile seal and the global Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations to an interested trade audience. The next Heimtextil will take place from January 12-15, 2021.