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Heimtextil 2015: Further increase in exhibitors and thus biggest product spectrum for years

Having attracted the largest number of exhibitors for years, Heimtextil in Frankfurt am Main provides ideal conditions for a highly promising launch of the new interior decorating season. 2,759 exhibitors from 68 countries will be participating in the world's leading trade fair on home and contract textiles (2014: 2,714 exhibitors from 62 countries). "This is the fifth time in succession that Heimtextil is recording an increase in exhibitors while also achieving a record value in its level of internationalism which was very high already. We can look forward to a superb line-up at Heimtextil, featuring top players from the international industry. There will also be several spectacular events, setting standards in design and modernity, " says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.

The latest market figures, too, are setting good signals for a successful start to the year. According to the latest quarterly report from UNIDO (the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) on World Manufacturing Production, the global production of textiles rose by 5 per cent at the beginning of last year but then slowed down during the remaining year. UNIDO believes that there are good reasons to be moderately optimistic about 2015 and is expecting a slight increase on the international market. Growth is boosted even further by a rise in consumer confidence in the United States, coupled with higher manufacturing rates in this biggest consumer nation in the world. India, too, is pursuing ambitious plans for growth. According to Euratex, the European textile industry experienced a 3.6 per cent sales increase during the first three quarters of 2014. Moreover, Euratex is expecting further positive indicators for 2014 and 2015. According to its umbrella organisation, textil + mode, the German textile industry experienced a 2.1 per cent sales increase in textiles for January to October 2014. The Association of the German Home Textile Industry recorded a sales increase of 1.1 percent during the first half of 2014. From September onwards there was an increase in positive stimuli, so that a 1-2 per cent sales surplus can be expected for 2014 as a whole.

Major capacity utilisation
The increase in exhibitors at Heimtextil is accompanied by even greater capacity utilisation. Many of the halls are fully – or at least almost fully – booked. In addition, Hall 4.0 is also occupied. "We are pleased to see such a large number of top brand names, including companies that did not come to Heimtextil in the last few years as well as new exhibitors. Furthermore, we are proud to have become an international launchpad for small and highly creative labels as well as for promising young designers. This is reflected, in particular, in two areas: Design Live and New & Next, " says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

In Hall 3.0 the Textile Rooms Initiative is celebrating its première, represented by well-known companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The international top players in the wallpaper industry are presenting themselves in Hall 3.1, together with well-known textile design companies. This is also the first time that Hall 4.0 is creating space for groundbreaking product innovations and future areas of interest. Innovative strength and growth potential are demonstrated particularly clearly by the highly successful segment of digital printing. 16 companies are represented, including all the international market leaders, with more than twice as many exhibitors as last year and occupying more than twice as much space as last year. Hall 4.1 is featuring the full splendour of products from leading brand manufacturers in upholstery and decorative fabrics. The world's biggest platform for textile design can be admired by visitors at Design Live in Hall 4.2. Around 200 studios are presenting their latest designs. The latest screening and shading systems can be viewed in Hall 5.1.

Halls 6 and 10 are giving an overview of home textiles (Hall 6) and contract textiles (Hall 10) from Asia. The world's biggest centre of bedlinen, bedding and bathroom textiles can be found in Hall 8, represented by well-known international manufacturers. The premium segment of bathroom, bedroom and table linen is shown in Hall 11 together with numerous well-known fashion labels and their latest home textile collections. The newcomers' platform New & Next is putting the spotlight on the new generation of designers. In Halls 9.0 and 11.1 a range of young designers and start-up companies are presenting their fresh product ideas for bathrooms, beds and tables. Another young designer highlight can be found in Hall 11.0, under the motto "Ambitious Style Mix", as the Frankfurt School of Fashion and Clothing has collaborated with Heimtextil exhibitors on creating interpretations of national costumes.

New Theme Park as a central event highlight
Heimtextil 2015 is turning more and more into a worldwide launchpad for international trends and interior design. The central highlight is the new Theme Park in Hall 4.0 which replaces – or rather expands – the former Trend Show at the Forum. This is where Heimtextil has created a special space for comprehensive presentations of areas of interest that will be relevant to the industry in the future. Running under the heading "Experience", Heimtextil is set to provide visitors and exhibitors with tangible impressions of the latest developments in the world of textile design – experiences that are full of great emotive content and more intensive and comprehensive than ever before. One essential part of the Theme Park is a Material Gallery, which includes a large selection of fabric collections from exhibitors and provides a complete overview of up-and-coming household textile trends, grouped together by trend themes for 2015/16. It is next to a Colour Pavilion that highlights the latest colour themes. Other developments on the market can be viewed in three special sections – Hospitality, Retail and Sustainability. Heimtextil also has a Conference Space with talks given by well-known speakers and a Community Area where the focus is on networking and dialogue. Another new feature is the Cinema where films are shown at regular intervals Furthermore, there are three trend spots in Halls 3.1, 5.1 and 11.1, visualising trend applications with the focus on walls (3.1), the sun (5.1) and retail (11.1). The design and implementation of the Theme Park is the work of the Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (Amsterdam Institute of Style).

More products and services on contract textiles
Project planners, architects and interior designers benefit from the extended Heimtextil information spectrum on global contract textiles, both in the new Theme Park and throughout the trade fair. Working together with partners and industry experts, Heimtextil provides plenty of inspiration on all aspects of contract textiles. Talks and guided tours are held, enabling visitors to exchange ideas with designers and architects and to make new contacts. More than 300 exhibitors are offering products and interior decorating solutions in contract textiles. They are listed in the Contract Guide, an exhibitors' directory which can be picked up for free throughout the exhibition centre.

Digital textile printing as a growth market
One major theme at Heimtextil 2015 is digital textile printing. One particularly convincing aspect of these new technologies is their excellent competitive benefits – even though this development is only just beginning to cover the entire market. It is estimated that only two per cent of all textile prints are currently being produced with digital methods. Yet on a global scale we can expect to see an annual growth rate of 25 per cent. The boom has already led to the doubling of exhibition space for the digital print product group at Heimtextil, presented for the first time in Hall 4.0. Several industry heavyweights are among the market leaders, such as Epson Europe. As well as the product presentations of the exhibitors, visitors can look forward to the European Digital Textile Conference, now held for the second time at Heimtextil in collaboration with the World Textile Information Network (WTiN). The conference, which is subject to a fee, provides information on the latest market developments and will be held in the Europa Hall, right next to Hall 4.0, on 15 January.

Sustainability: a high standard is gaining ground
The thematic complex of sustainability is more than a trend at Heimtextil. “As we are the hosts of the world’s leading trade fair for home textiles, it is our aim to strengthen the green textile market and to function as an orientation provider and stimulant, ” says Schmidt. “This is why Heimtextil has a special forum for companies that work sustainably and why we put the emphasis on resource-saving products and organise an accompanying programme of events.” The central point of contact on all matters of sustainability is the new Green Village in Galleria 1. This is where certifiers and seal providers are now presenting themselves to a trade fair audience for the first time. On Thursday 15 January a Green Tour will be held, showing interested visitors around the exhibition centre and focusing on exhibitors with sustainable business methods and products. In addition, on Friday 16 January, we are holding the first Sustainability Day with a wide-ranging programme of talks. This will be a première. Both design and sustainability will be at the focus of the Young Creations Award: Upcycling. The best designs of this European young designers’ competition will be judged by the public in Hall 4.2.

Heimtextil in the centre of Frankfurt
End users, too, will be invited to enjoy some aspects of Heimtextil. For the 11th



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