The international trade fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil 2024 edition on January, 9-12, ends with an increase in exhibitors, a plus in visitors and sets new standards for a sustainable and AI-driven textile industry. 46,000 buyers from around 130 nations took the opportunity to participate in the global textile market – from upholstery and decorative fabrics, bed and bathroom textiles, mattresses, functional textiles and carpets to wallpapers, outdoor fabrics, artificial leather, curtains, fibres, yarns, sleeping systems and decorative cushions. Despite nationwide rail strikes, this edition recorded a plus in visitor numbers and, with 2,838 exhibitors from 60 nations, a 25 percent increase in exhibitor numbers compared to the previous year’s event.
Firsts were experienced at Heimtextil 2024
For the first time in 2024, the trade fair provided fascinating insights into the textile application of artificial intelligence and the use of AI-controlled sorting to refine recycled textile waste into new yarns. In the trend space, visitors’ textile design ideas were also brought to life at interactive stations using tools such as ChatGPT-4 and Midjourney. Besides, the global carpet industry presented together in one hall for the first time, including numerous international market leaders who exhibited in Frankfurt for the first time or after a long time – with overwhelming satisfaction.
In addition, Heimtextil once again made state-of-the-art sustainable production and action tangible. One of the main points of contact were the Heimtextil Trends with New Sensitivity: the concept focused on the ongoing transformation of the textile industry and presented numerous market-ready and scalable solutions. One example was the company Ever Dye, whose self-developed color pigments enable dyeing at room temperature. Variant 3D, on the other hand, offers AI-driven knitting software that can be used to produce even complex shapes such as lampshades without creating patterns. The Econogy program offered further central content formats, with Finder, Talks, Tours and the Econogy Hub demonstrating all the versatility of circular approaches, the relevance of certificates and possible applications for textile materials. The exhibitors listed in the Finder contributed to the holistic experience of sustainability.
Heimtextil increased its international exhibitor rate to 95 percent
Heimtextil achieved an increase in the level of internationality on the exhibitor side to 95 percent. The top ten exhibiting countries were China, India, Türkiye, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and the Netherlands. There was an increase in the exhibitor numbers from Belgium, Bulgaria, China, India, Japan, Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the USA and Egypt. On the visitor side, more visitors came from China, Germany, India, Japan, Croatia, Macedonia, Pakistan, Slovakia and Cyprus. The number of German trade visitors increased by around 10 percent.
Significant increase in satisfaction and visitor quality
In 2024, visitor satisfaction rose to an average of 93 percent both nationally and internationally – particularly with the breadth and depth of the offering. Among German trade visitors, overall satisfaction rose by seven percentage points to 88 percent. Over 90 percent of all visitors achieved their trade fair goals. Exhibitors were also impressed by the increased visitor quality and buying competence: the proportion of top decision-makers among buyers rose by six percentage points to 78 percent. Around 80 percent of exhibitors achieved their trade fair goals.
Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, Detlef Braun said: “Heimtextil ends with overwhelming participation. The increase in space, exhibitors and visitors in 2024 makes the following clear: the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles remains on course for growth – and sets new standards for a sustainable and AI-driven textile industry.”
Heimtextil will collaborate with Studio Urquiola for the 2025 edition
For 2025, Heimtextil is announcing a partnership with one of the most important and influential international design studios: Studio Urquiola. A pioneering installation is planned for the upcoming Heimtextil 2025, which will enable an immersive and unique design experience. With this collaboration, the Milan-based design studio and Heimtextil are emphasizing their joint commitment to innovation, sustainability and design in the entire textile industry.