An exceptional registration rate behind the nextHeimtextil fair is driving the decisive preparation phase forwards. Between 10 and 13 January 2017, the international trade fair for home and contract textiles will be showcasing the world’s broadest selection of textile products, trends and innovations in Frankfurt am Main. “Our trade fair is continuing to experience very positive growth across all product groups. The 2017 Heimtextil fair will once again be able to expand the product range and further boost the trade fair’s appeal to domestic and international buyers,” Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt, says. This will see the Heimtextil fair continue the upward trend of recent years. Since 2010, the number of exhibitors has risen continually (with 2,864 exhibitors in January 2016).

Across 20 hall levels, the industry’s leading international trade fair covers the entire portfolio of interior design textiles, as well as interior furnishings. This makes Heimtextil a globally unique ordering platform, drawing international industry participants at the start of the year. At the same time, an extensive supporting programme provides visitors and exhibitors with information and inspiration regarding the latest market developments.

Guides make it easier to find specific products
In order to find specific products and business partners more easily, Heimtextil has revised its services and free publications. Three new special interest guides provide an overview of sustainable textiles, professional furnishing solutions and of companies offering custom orders and small batches. In addition, Heimtextil also provides an attractive programme for the target group comprising interior designers, architects and hotel planners – including talks with well-known partners, such as AIT, the BDIA [Association of German Interior Architects/Designers] and Hotel Forum Management. The first point of contact for industry participants is the “Salon Interior. Architecture. Hospitality” in Foyer 4.0. From here, guides are held by well-known architects and hotel experts. A range of industry competitions, including the “Finest Interior Award” and the “AIT Innovation Prize” set inspirational new trends for architects and interior designers.

Expanded range of upholstery and decorative fabrics
Hall 3 traditionally features a very high calibre of exhibitors: With Lochner, Saum & Viebahn and Schmitz Werken from Germany and Holland Haag from the Netherlands, some extremely interesting companies are joining us for the first time. The decoration team will once again be attending exciting company and product presentations. In Hall 3.1, visitors can look forward to a globally unique wallpaper exhibition featuring 190 exhibitors from around the world, including Graham & Brown from the UK, Marburger Tapetenfabrik from Germany and Nobilis from France as some of the top players. Nearby, international fabric designers have also announced their participation, including Wind from Belgium, Kobe from Germany and, for the first time this year, Pepa Pastor from Spain.

Halls 4.0 and 4.1 will be offering an even more extensive range of decorative and upholstery fabric specialists and leatherette manufacturers at Heimtextil 2017. With Globatex from Germany and Monteiro Ribas-Revestimentos from Portugal, new leatherette suppliers will be attending. With its “Design live” area, Hall 4.2 will be showcasing the biggest textile design collection in the world. Around 230 studios from all over the globe will be presenting their latest designs. The high proportion of international exhibitors is also reflected among the new names, with Servam Stampa from Brazil, Shinrindo from Japan, Studio Riis from Denmark and TR Engraving from South Korea in attendance for the first time. Technical innovations aplenty will be provided by the privacy and sun protection product group, including decoration systems. Some well-known names returning in 2017 are: Blöcker ZNL der Hunter Douglas from Germany and Industrias Murtra and Vertisol Internacional from Spain.

Major names from Italy returning to Hall 11
Visitors will be able to find everything to do with bed textiles in the fully booked Hall 8 – from machines to fibres to the end product. Here, too, there will be new names and returning exhibitors in all areas. Berkshire Blanket from the US will be there once again, as will Bielefelder Bettfedern Manufaktur Verse from Germany, Lefebvre Textile from France and Manterol from Spain. In Hall 9, which is also fully booked, De Witte Lietaer International Textiles from Belgium and Home Linen Algodon Blanco from Spain will be enhancing the range of bathroom and bed textiles and table linen. Hall 11 will also be featuring some major names, including the homeware collections from major fashion labels and innovations from all of the most highly regarded suppliers in the world. The product range is expanded with a range of accessories, including lamps or bathroom items, which round off the exhibitors’ ranges. L'Artelier di Valter Cipriani / Nina’s Home from Italy will be attending for the first time in Hall 11.0. Hall 11.1 will see new names such as Avit Mode from Germany, Manifattura Tessile Sotema from Italy and Marushin from Japan. Traditional ateliers from Italy will also be returning in 2017: Forte (Cecchi & Cecchi) and Marzotto Lab will be celebrating their return to the industry’s leading fair. The topic of retail will also be highlighted in Hall 11. With the motto “Make yourself at home”, a special exhibition will provide information and inspiration for visitors from the retail trade.

New to Hall 6.0: the Digital Textile Micro Factory
The industry will continue to focus on the digital print technology product group with companies offering digital printing machines. A raft of international market leaders has once again been secured, including Epson from Japan, Hewlett Packard from the US, Mimaki from the Netherlands and MS Printing from Italy. In 2017, the product group will be moving from Hall 4.0 to Hall 6.0 – right next to the “Theme Park” trend area. In partnership with the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, a Digital Textile Micro Factory will be installed for the first time. Here, visitors will be able to experience the entire digital production chain in person – from the design and digital printing to the finishing and automated cutting and construction. Visitors will be able to witness how the process can adapt quickly to trends in textile production and is therefore always available for use on demand. In doing so, it also optimises material consumption and ensures precise, fast processing.

New & Next: Expansion to include further product groups
Around 30 young designers await with fresh, new design ideas as part of the New & Next start-up programme. Those responsible for Heimtextil 2017 will also be expanding the support available to newcomers to include additional product groups. Amongst others, attendees include Aalto-Korkeakoulusäätiö from Finland, Deckenkunst Manufaktur Germany and Headcarpets un Masaso from Germany, Moholy-Nagy from Hungary and Textile Design from Croatia. New & Next participants are marked with a special signet on their stand and can be found in Halls 3.0, 4.2, 9.0 and 11.0.

Heimtextil Theme Park: The interior design trends of tomorrow
The highlight of the programme for fans of design is the Theme Park in Hall 6.0. In the central trend and inspiration area, visitors and exhibitors can look forward to a dazzling display of design innovations. The leitmotif this time will be “Explorations”. An accompanying range of talks provides in-depth insight into new design projects. To tie in with the 2017/18 season, a team of six international design ateliers from a broad range of trending disciplines developed the major topics, with French agency Carlin International and its Berlin-based partner company Exalis heading the project. The design of the Theme Park was also the responsibility of Carlin International and Exalis. You can get an initial impression of the new trend topics at www.heimtextil-theme-park.com.

Heimtextil Theme Park