The conclusion of Heimtextil 2024 was marked by enhanced connections with key decision-makers, expanded global business prospects, and a diverse influx of visitors worldwide. The event boasted a significant turnout, with 46,000 attendees from approximately 130 countries and 2,838 exhibitors representing 60 nations, a remarkable 25% increase from the prior year. Despite facing challenges like nationwide rail strikes and localised protests affecting travel, the exhibition managed to outshine projections with a notable surge in visitor numbers. Notably, the Carpets & Rugs product category received exceptional praise from international buyers for its quality and diversity. Heimtextil also zeroed in on pivotal themes shaping the future, notably sustainable practices and artificial intelligence, underscoring its commitment to industry innovation. As the premier showcase for home and contract textiles, the event offered attendees a firsthand glimpse into the evolving landscape of design and production.
Heimtextil 2024 displayed its global prowess, setting the stage for Messe Frankfurt’s exceptional year. 46,000 buyers from 130 nations engaged in the diverse textile market, spanning a variety of products such as fabrics, mattresses, carpets, wallpapers, and more. Despite facing nationwide rail strikes, the event saw an upsurge in visitor numbers and a remarkable 25% surge in exhibitors to 2,838 from 60 countries. Detlef Braun, a Board Member of Messe Frankfurt, highlighted the event’s success by stating that Heimtextil concludes with remarkable participation. The substantial growth in exhibition space, exhibitors, and attendees in 2024 underscores the fair’s continued trajectory towards success and innovation in the textile industry.
Impressive global participation: National and international engagement surged as Heimtextil saw a rise in international exhibitors to 95 per cent. The top ten showcasing countries included China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and the Netherlands. Notable growth was observed in exhibitor numbers from Belgium, China, Bulgaria, India, Japan, Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Egypt and the USA.. Regarding visitors, there was an influx from China, India, Germany, Japan, Croatia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Pakistan, and Cyprus. German trade visitors also witnessed a notable uptick of approximately ten per cent.
In 2024, there was a significant boost in satisfaction and visitor quality, nationally and internationally, reaching an average of 93 per cent. Notably, the expanded range of offerings contributed to this positive trend. German trade visitors showed a notable rise in overall satisfaction, increasing by seven percentage points to 88 per cent. Moreover, over 90 per cent of visitors successfully achieved their trade fair objectives. Exhibitors also noted an improvement in visitor quality and purchasing proficiency, with the percentage of top decision-makers among buyers increasing by six points to 78 per cent. Approximately 80 per cent of exhibitors accomplished their trade fair objectives.
Impressive kickoff for Carpets & Rugs expansion: The debut of the new Carpets & Rugs category proved highly successful. Bringing together key players from the global carpet industry under one roof for the first time, the event featured a notable presence of international market leaders showcasing their offerings in Frankfurt, some for the first time or after an extended hiatus – receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Katrien Vandenbroucke, CEO of Ragolle Rugs, explains that for their debut in Frankfurt, they consciously showcased the entire collection, a decision that proved successful as they garnered significant global interest.
Raghav Gupta, Director of E-Commerce at The Rug Republic, acknowledges the return to Frankfurt due to the perceived potential in the new concept, which exceeded their expectations.
The industry’s desire for a collective presence in Frankfurt was validated by exhibitors like the Egyptian Oriental Weavers Group, with Ahmed El Gamal, Export Sales Manager of Mac Carpet, praising the new concept and expressing anticipation for future collaborations at Carpets & Rugs in 2025 with an enlarged booth, underscoring the positive reception and outlook shared by participants.
Transitioning from AI integration in textile design to scalable, sustainable solutions represents a significant shift at Heimtextil. This evolution showcases the pivotal roles of artificial intelligence and sustainability in shaping future industry approaches. The 2024 exhibition highlighted innovative applications of AI in textile processing, like AI-assisted sorting for recycled fibre transformation. Interactive showcases featuring tools like ChatGPT 4 and Midjourney energised visitors, bringing their design visions to life.
Moreover, Heimtextil underscored the significance of sustainable practices, spotlighting market-ready solutions. Companies like Ever Dye, with room-temperature dye pigments, and Variant 3D, offering AI-powered knitting software, exemplified this commitment. The comprehensive Econogy program delved into circular strategies, emphasising certifications and textile material applications. Exhibitors raved about the event’s focus on sustainability, acknowledging the industry’s shift towards holistic environmental initiatives. Feedback from industry leaders like Mevlut Baydar and Sebastian Ihling further echoed the event’s success in promoting sustainable innovation and collaborative partnerships within the textile sector.
The extensive range of beds, bathrooms, and sleep systems received a positive response at Heimtextil. The Smart Bedding collection, including bedding, bed linen, bathroom textiles, mattresses, and sleep systems, attracted strong interest. Representatives from leading brands and private labels in the Bed & Bath sector expressed satisfaction with the exhibition. Markus Ertel, Managing Director of Heinrich Häussling GmbH & Co., highlighted the success of their communicative stand design in facilitating customer interactions.
Roeland Smits, Managing Director of Essenza Home, emphasised Heimtextil’s role as a critical platform for global market presence. Tânia Lima, Lameirinho – Indústria Têxtil’s Marketing Manager praised the event for connecting them with the right markets and hospitality buyers. The 2024 edition of Heimtextil provided valuable insights for the bed retail and hotel industry through knowledge sharing on design principles and innovative technologies like artificial intelligence in sleep analysis.
In the halls dedicated to Asian Excellence & Selection, trade buyers of medium to large volumes connected with experienced exporters and discovered a diverse range of top-notch textile products. Suppliers expressed satisfaction with the calibre of visitors, leading to new market opportunities and contacts. Nishant Kumar Singh, Export Sales Manager at GM Syntex, shared positive feedback on participating in Heimtextil for 16 years, noting increased visitor quality and improved order business, especially in the UK, USA, and Europe. Muzzammil Kasumbi, Senior General Manager at Al-Karam Textile Mills, highlighted the growing presence of visitors from the Middle East this year, indicating promising prospects for their products in this evolving market landscape.
The Interior Architecture Hospitality programme at Heimtextil for the contract business showcased a diverse and global selection of innovations. Participants from the architecture and hospitality industries collaborated with suppliers, exploring themes such as health, outdoor spaces, new work environments, and sustainability. International manufacturers introduced cutting-edge solutions tailored for various applications, emphasising functionality and sustainability. Heimtextil 2024 marked a successful beginning to the business year, with Trevira CS and 17 key partners unveiling their sustainable products through a joint exhibition.
The event featured sustainable materials like recycled fibres, yarns, and fabrics, including those from chemical recycling processes, drawing significant interest from attendees. Within the LIBRARY section, visitors marvelled at functional textiles like flame-retardant wallpapers, dirt-repellent upholstery fabrics, and light-resistant leather, all of which enriched the contract range alongside decorative and upholstery fabrics in the Fibres & Yarns segment, making 2024’s edition more significant and more impactful.
In the outlook for 2025, Heimtextil reveals a new collaboration with renowned design studio Studio Urquiola. This partnership is set to bring forth an innovative installation at Heimtextil 2025, promising an exceptional design encounter. By joining forces, the Milan-based design powerhouse and the prominent trade fair for textiles showcase their shared dedication to revolutionising, eco-friendliness, and creativity within the textile sector.
