Sustainability, creativity and quality marked the world’s largest fair for home and contract textiles, writes RAVI KALMADY

The 40th Heimtextil in Frankfurt, the world’s largest trade fair for home and contract textiles, ended after four days that represented a buoyant outlook for 2010, with 72,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries replenishing their stocks and gaining fresh inspiration for the new season.

Heimtextil 2010 could easily be termed a ‘city of textiles’, set on the massive 578,000 sq m of ground space of Messe Frankfurt, Germany’s biggest fair and exhibition company, and organiser of the fair.

The 2010 edition had a strong accent on the latest products and trends presented by 2,521 exhibitors from 60 countries.

“This year’s Heimtextil was a complete success,” said a delighted Detlef Braun of Messe Frankfurt.

“Despite the difficult situation in the textile industry and the retail market, the fair was not only distinguished by a stable number of exhibitors but also by an increase in the number of visitors.

“The mood among participants was highly optimistic. They are fed up with tales of woe and were prepared to make active use of the fair to boost business by beginning the new year with fresh products, concepts and themes.”

The event indicated a greater internationality than ever before with 85 per cent of the exhibitors from outside Germany. While the number of German visitors remained stable, compared to 2009, at more than 25,000, 65 per cent of visitors came from outside Germany, an increase of six per cent.

Of the exhibitors, 2,140 were foreign companies. After Germany, the best represented exhibitor nations included Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium and Portugal. Asian exhibitors came primarily from India, China, Pakistan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

More than 70 per cent of both exhibitors and visitors said they considered the economic situation to be satisfactory to good. Last year, this view was taken by only 56 per cent of exhibitors and 66 per cent of visitors.

The general consensus was that the worst appears to be over for the international textile sector which, in the wake of the worldwide economic crisis, suffered dramatic declines in sales and export figures in many segments.

Vanjinath Govindadass, head of production and quality control at Cotton Concepts in Chennai, India, said manufacturers have expanded their business in 2010 by offering limited lines of products which complement their current ranges.

“This approach has been adapted by most of the companies from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,” he observed. “Cotton Concepts has added a few products, which have been well appreciated and accepted by buyers from all over the world.

“For instance, we have introduced products such cotton door stoppers, laundry bags, coat hangers, cotton storage boxes and ironing board covers. These products are carefully designed to make textiles more interesting and fashionable.”

He added that a number of manufacturers from the Indian subcontinent who make traditional textiles have tied up with high-fashion designers from the west to make their designs more interesting and easily adaptable.

Marcus Kevin, CEO of MBTM-Products, Finland, said: “This is our first time at Heimtextil and our expectations have been exceeded, particularly with regard to the difficult economic situation. Heimtextil is a good barometer for the business climate in our sector and optimism was widespread.

“We were very surprised at the high level of international participation here in Frankfurt and were able to make many more international contacts than expected with even more from overseas than from Europe.”

Themes, products and ideas to counteract last year’s difficulties with creativity and specific solutions were in demand.

The desire for quality, design, creativity and sustainability also grew with respect to the products on show with wallpaper, sun-protection systems, contract textiles and design being especially sought after.

“Wallpaper was the driving force of Heimtextil 2010 and visitors were bubbling over with enthusiasm for this product group,” said Hubertus Nocker of Decor-Union.

On the last day of the fair, consumers also had the chance to get a foretaste of the textile trends for the coming season.

The ‘Heimtextil goes City’ initiative of Messe Frankfurt and the Guild of Interior Decorators, Frankfurt am Main, took new products from the trade fair to the city centre. Thirty specialist retailers, galleries and public institutes presented textiles in all walks of life and culture and gave practical tips for the home.

Eyecatching: Yuzen fabrics

Christian Fischbacher, a bed and bath products pioneer from Switzerland, stole the limelight with a selection of sustainable fabrics from the brand’s eco-friendly Benu range of textiles made from PET bottles.

In a groundbreaking technological process, empty PET bottles are transformed into yarns. A strict quality check controls the production and only the best yarns will be coloured, woven and finally, in accordance with Fischbacher’s designated function, finished. The surprising result is a recycled polyester yarn of the finest quality.

The Benu PET fabrics are further treated with a special, ecologically sound NanoTex finishing, which provides a unique hydrophobic surface. This makes the fabrics moisture and stain resistant.

The Swiss company also exhibited its bed linen collection January 2010. The range featured classic designs in rich details on jersey and Fischbacher’s lively and colourful Papagallo range is a satin design on a white base – modern and eye-catching.

UK-based Prestigious Textiles, exhibited jacquards and wallpapers, its main product line, in a glamorous stand at Heimtextil. The company has its own studio to design its prints.

Trevor Helliwell, managing director, who’s been in the textile design business for 47 years, said business has improved dramatically in the last six months.

“Customers and retailers are looking for easier colours with ‘no adventure’ and in smaller quantities,” he said.

Mumbai-based GM Fabrics, one of the largest vertically integrated mills in India, also displayed jacquard decorative fabrics, drapery, upholstery, wide-width sheets and embroidery.

And Japan’s Yuzen Kimono Curtains demonstrated the country’s traditional beauty with curtains created with Kimono ‘Yuzen’ fabrics for which craftsmen draw delicate Kimono designs onto pure silk fabrics.

Exhibiting from the UAE were Zoë and the Rivoli Group.