The world outside drives us inside: Our own four walls always constitute a safe and secure comfort zone where we can lead a leisurely life in open-plan kitchens, relax in private spas, and all in all have a cozy time of it. However, constantly being accessible does not stop when you close your front door: “It seems as though it is almost impossible to now be offline,” comments Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies Messe Frankfurt. “And we therefore all the more need a wellness experience that feels good and can be combined with the inner wish for a home that provides tranquility and is in harmony with us.”
Home textiles, and so much is certain, play a decisive role in this regard. Curtains, wallpapers, acoustic panels, upholstery fabrics, bathroom, bedroom and table-top textiles. Heimtextil, the world’s leading fair for home and contract textiles, which runs from January 12-15, 2016 at the Frankfurt trade fair complex, is intended not just as a forum for exhibitors. For it sets out to present an image of future living spaces and is declaring “Well-Being 4.0” to be the latest lifestyle trend. The focus is on a holistic approach that brings the human factor back more strongly into design and seeks to re-foreground the senses. “Well-Being 4.0” covers those worlds of textile furnishings in which the emphasis is on feeling good and an aura of relaxation and calm.
In this regard a great role is played by technology and science, which enter into a symbiosis with the textiles. The attribute “4.0” derives from the concept of “Industry 4.0” and stands for smart, digital and personalized solutions. To oversimplify: It must be possible to get upbeat feelings and sensory responses at the press of a button. In order to visualize the topic of “Well-Being 4.0”, international design agencies from six different countries have developed a vision of tomorrow’s interior trends. These include, among others, themes such as “Craftsmanship as Luxury”, “The Ocean’s Resources”, “Therapeutic Textiles” and “Surprising Surfaces”. The themes are being specially staged by a team led by trend agency WGSN Group – at the Heimtextil “Theme Park” in Hall 6.0: it’s a trend zone with a wide array of offerings and in recent years has emerged as a clear must-see at the fair, as it gives an outlook on the future of home and contract textiles.
Textiles are fast becoming green
One of the absolute trends is clearly sustainability. In order to strengthen the market for green textiles Heimtextil is creating a forum specially for companies with sustainable business operations and highlighting resource-sparing products. Moreover, there’s an accompanying program of events, hosted among others in the “Green Village” in Hall 8.0 and the “Green Directory” guide offers an easy-to-read overview of all companies offering sustainable home and contract textiles. The exhibitors in questions are to be found in various halls, in keeping with the particular kind of textile they offer, and their booths are specially marked. (Read MORE on this here).
Around 2,700 exhibitors from 68 countries will present their new products in Frankfurt. And the choice of days is new, too: In 2016, the trade fair will open for the first time not on a Wednesday, but on a Tuesday, January 12. It will therefore not close on a Saturday but on Friday, January 15. The wallpaper booths will form a key section of the fair – a product line that is currently booming. Carsten Malz of Cologne’s Tapetenagentur explains this as follows: “The fact that wallpaper is going through quite a revival can be attributed to my mind to three factors: We are seeing something of a counter-trend to the classic white woodchip wallpapers, as at the moment there’s a strong yearning for color and design. Second, society has changed and there’s a much stronger interest in living spaces, homes and decoration. And third, the technology has changed. Digital production now means there is a far greater selection on offer.”
Look forward to be stunned by these advances in wallpapers, among others, at Marburger Tapetenfabrik in Hall 3.1 (boothD70/FOY01). For his “Evolution” collection Luigi Colani, now 87 years old, was inspired by biodynamic shapes and has realized the designs using 3D embossing. Satin gleaming metallic surfaces and even sculptural décor elements may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they certainly express the new joy in home decorations.
In actual fact, digital printing is increasingly important as regards wallpapers and textiles. For the fourth time in a row the number of exhibitors presenting innovations relating to digital textile printing has risen – currently 19 companies have registered and will occupy more than 1,000 square meters in Hall 4.0. They include Durst, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Kornit, Mimaki, MS Printing Solutions, Reggiani and Xeikon. Newcomers this time include Fotoba International and J-Teck3 from Italy as well as Australia’s Pigment Inc.
Sleep-well room
The 2016 Heimtextil will focus more strongly on mattresses. Boxspring beds are now considered the measures of all things as regards getting a good night’s sleep. And the increased health awareness is reflected in the sheer range of mattresses and materials now used. In Halls 8 through 11, exhibitors will be showcasing not just mattresses and bed systems, but also blankets, duvets and bed linen. In Galleria 0 the Sleep Campaign will provide information on “Good Sleep” and “Sleeping as you age”.
In our global world, well-being is not only something that happens at home, but is also important when it comes to hotel design. A study by the market researchers at Business Target Group conducted on behalf of Messe Frankfurt has shown that the choice of textiles influences not only the atmosphere but even the quality of a hotel. The study entitled “Heimtextil 2016 – Bedeutung von Heimtextilien in der gehobenen deutschen Hotellerie” can be obtained for a fee from Messe Frankfurt (read MORE here).
In order to familiarize hotel operators, architects, interior designers and designers with the topic, on January 13-14 there will be a series of lectures on it in the Saal Europa in the foyer of Hall 4.0. For example, on January 14 the talk will be on “Travel yesterday and today – hotel architecture as a haven when abroad”. There will be guided tours for the same target group, addressing product innovations and tends, on January 13, 14 and 15, at 11 a.m. on each day. The first port of call for architects and hoteliers will no doubt by the “Salon. Interior. Architecture. Hospitality” lounge, which will be outfitted with VS Möbel’s Richard Neutra Collection, and is to be found in the foyer of Hall 4.0. And the highly varied trade-fair offerings are rounded out by the special presentation in the foyer 5.1/6.1 of the products that were entered in the competition for the “Innovation Award Architektur+Textile Objekt”.
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
www.heimtextil-theme-park.com
www.heimtextil-blog.com
MORE on Stylepark:
Further links relating to the Heimtextil:
Trend booklet:
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
Heimtextil App:
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
Green Directory:
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
Events:
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
Guided tours:
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
