Future of textiles: Report 2 from Heimtextil
One of the new wallpapers on display at Heimtexil.
A newly-released wallpaper with shine and texture.
Texture and pattern feature in this wallpaper.
Heimtexil Trend Hall | Technology.
Heimtexil Trend Hall | Hospitality.
Heimtexil Trend Hall | Craft.
Heimtexil Trend Hall | Sustainability.
Heimtexil Trend Hall | Retail.
Mokum's Stephanie Moffitt reports from the current Heimtextil Trade Fair in Frankfurt.
Day 2 starts with researching new wallpaper substrates and printing techniques for our forthcoming Catherine Martin for Mokum collection. I begin the day meeting with our existing United Kingdom printer to review their new digital papers and vinyl embossing grounds. This hall was filled with a broad range of wallpaper printing mills and editors, such as Elitis, Arte and Zimmer+ Rohde; and showcased a broad offering of digital printing, embossing and traditional printing techniques onto paper.
Key wallpaper trends were tropical prints, in keeping with the hottest fabric patterns; heavily embossed textures and metallic papers; and vinyls with surface interest.
I headed to the hall entitled “Well Being” which featured five trends. These very much reflected the market direction of the last 24 months.
Sustainability – Elemental Harmony
Retail – Intimate Retail
Craft – Old Craft meets Modern Technology
Technology – Colour Immersion
Hospitality – Timeless Refuge
The rest of the day was spent meeting with our Italian upholstery weavers and reviewing their new constructions. The mills I met with offered a diverse mix of custom constructions. Key trends were heavy linens, space-dyed warps, wool blends and weaves constructed using metallic and matt yarns creating a relaxed luxury suitable for our Australasian lifestyle. Then it was out to dinner with a favourite supplier from Bursa, Turkey.
Day 3 was my final day at the fair before heading on to Belgium to meet with a key supplier and continue with my market research, this time in Antwerp, the fashionable home of Dries Van Noten.
Before leaving Frankfurt I reviewed my selections and finalised constructions with those mills I had requested worldwide exclusivity for the Mokum brand.
Heimtexil was definitely worth revisiting. Having been absent for six years I will definitely add this fair to my international travel plans – there’s a growing number of reputable high-end exhibitors. Now, it’s off to Antwerp!
Heimtextil is taking place in Frankfurt from January 12-15 2016.
