Textination Newsline

• HEIMTEXTIL IS ALREADY SHOWING TODAY HOW WE CAN SLEEP BETTER TOMORROW

According to doctors specialising in sleep, we already know almost everything there is to know about sleep. However, studies show that the quality of this regeneration process is deteriorating all the time. How can we prevent this from happening? The upcoming Heimtextil (8-11 January, Frankfurt am Main) will supply solutions to this with the new ‘Sleep! The Future Forum’. Here, international experts will present the latest findings and textile innovations for a restful night. The world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles brings together around 800 producers of textiles in the bed segment. Of these, 140 international industry leaders will be represented in the ‘Smart Bedding’ segment alone in hall 11.0, which will be presenting the latest sleep systems, mattresses, bedding and smart sleep technology. In addition, the new ‘Sleep! The Future Forum’ in the foyer of hall 11.0 will provide a platform for knowledge transfer, exchange of experiences and networking relating to a good night’s sleep. International experts will provide an overview of the current state of research and the latest findings on the ‘Future of sleep’ in the four subject areas of digital, sport, hotels and sustainability.

‘We sleep too little’
It is not without reason that many experts are declaring sleep to be the latest lifestyle trend after nutrition and fitness: numerous current studies prove that we are sleeping ever more badly despite increasing knowledge. ‘You don’t always notice sleep deprivation straightaway but you do become less attentive’, says Prof. Ingo Fietze, Head of the Interdisciplinary Sleep Medicine Centre at the Berliner Charité and chair of the German Sleep Foundation. At ‘Sleep! The Future Forum’, Fietze will talk about ‘The power engine of sleep’. ‘From a scientific point of view, we already know a great deal about our night’s sleep. The big problem is that we don’t sleep enough and don’t give sleep the importance it deserves’, says Fietze.

In order to improve our night’s sleep, there are now a number of smart gadgets available: intelligent pillows, noise-reducing high-tech earplugs and sleep trackers – these are all designed to help banish bad sleeping habits and consolidate healthy ones. Given that consumers can quickly get lost in this maze, the Schlafonauten, who call themselves Germany's biggest YouTube channel on the topic of sleep, are ready to help. ‘We test products that promise a calmer night to see how effective they are’, says Schlafonaut Fabian Dittrich. He will present the latest test results in the knowledge forum as part of an interview (‘Smart innovations – the practical test’).

Sleep like a (sports) professional
Another speaker knows the sleeping habits of professional athletes very well: Nick Littlehales, sleep coach of five-time World Cup footballerCristiano Ronaldo and four-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, will present his findings from his 22 years as a sleep coach for top athletes (‘Redefining Sleep in Elite Sport’). ‘Athletes and professionals in world sports are facing the growing demands of a globalised 24-hour society’, says Littlehales. This is also increasingly true for non-athletes, says Littlehales, who is certain that his sleep tips for professionals will also be useful for normal mortals.

The night's rest as an experience
Sleeperoo founder Karen Löhnert will show that you can sleep comfortably in the most unusual places during her lecture ‘Sleeperoo - The Night, The Place and You’ at the ‘Sleep!’ forum. She will be introducing the world’s first ‘Design Sleep Cube’. The sleeping capsule known from the start-up TV show ‘Höhle des Löwen’ is currently nominated for the German Innovation Award 2019. It allows the user to spend the night in exotic places such as a museum, a bunker or a pier in the Baltic Sea. ‘I'm a big fan of adventure nights, from tree houses to tepees; but unfortunately I've only been able to find a few local accommodation offers of this type and they don't come with quality guarantees’, says Löhnert. With her sleep cube, she wants to make sleep experiences with a high standard of amenities possible for the first time. In the Sleep Cube, the user lies on a comfortable 1.60 metre wide and 2 metre long mattress, while three large panoramic windows and the roof provide a view of the surroundings and the sky.

Even classic hotel stays have now become a focus of research. Vanessa Borkmann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO will talk about the importance of sleep in hotels in Frankfurt am Main in January (‘The importance of sleep during a hotel stay – a special experience thanks to innovation’). ‘Healthy sleep is particularly important in hotels’, says Borkmann, who wants to show how the effect of rest in the hotel bed can be improved, for example through the design of the sleeping environment, the behaviour of the guest themselves or technical innovations.

Sustainable sleep
More and more people are using natural materials and sustainably produced textiles in their bedrooms. The lecture block ‘Sleep & Sustainability’ is therefore dedicated to the material properties of textiles and the quality of their processing as well as the auditability of sustainable procurement and production standards. This is how Hendrik Albers, buyer of home and household textiles, bedding & mattresses at OTTO, and Dr Juliane Hedderich, managing director of the Down and Feather Associations in Mainz, describe the growing importance of nature conservation, environmental protection and animal welfare in the bedroom (‘Sustainable good advice - Convincing with the right arguments when it comes to animal welfare and quality’). ‘In the past, criteria such as weight, moisture wicking and filling power has played an almost exclusive role in the choice of bedding, but now the ethical component is increasingly coming into play’, says Hedderich. Consumers are placing ever greater importance on certificates and seals which prove that the processed down and feathers did not originate from live plucking or foie gras production. Hedderich and OTTO buyer Albers present the quality seal ‘DOWNPASS 2017’, which guarantees controlled animal husbandry and adherence to animal protection criteria.

German suppliers can benefit from production expansions
Tunis (GTAI) - After difficult years, Tunisia's textile sector is recovering. Exports and foreign investment are on the rise again. Production is for export, especially to Europe.

At the end of October 2018, the Swiss auditing group SGS reported its expanded testing capacity for textiles in Tunisia. This was in response to the increased demand from producers producing for the world market in Tunisia. The sector has not been doing well in recent years. Even before the revolution in 2011, competitive pressure from Asian producers had left its mark, especially after the expiry of the multi-fiber agreement in 2005. According to the FTTH (Fédération Tunisienne du textile et de l'habillement), more than 400 companies have left the country since 2011 and 40,000 jobs have been lost.

Now positive news are coming: In 2018, for example, the German Gonser Group opened its fifth production facility in Tunisia. In total, foreign direct investments in the first six months of 2018 amounted to Tunisian Dinar (tD) 24.9 million (approx. EUR 7.5 million), 1 tD = approx. EUR 0.301as of 11. 07.), more than twice as high as in the corresponding period of the previous year. The fact, that the number of new created jobs as a result has risen much less, can be seen as confirmation of the structural change: Away from simple mass production to higher-value production.

A high level of employee training is also decisive for this. The Sartex company shows how this can be ensured. In 2014, the Tunisian company opened a training center, in which some 500 Tunisians have already been trained and most of them were hired by Sartex. The company was supported by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Centre d'Orientation et de Reconversion Professionnelle (CORP) of the AHK Tunisia.

During the visit of Federal Development Minister Müller in October 2018, an agreement was signed on the establishment of a training center in EL Alia in the Bizerte governorate. Among others the German company van Laack is producing in the region. A total of 180,000 Tunisians now work in the textile sector, which accounts with that for about 40 percent of industrial jobs.

Wage increases in two steps
More than one year after its foundation, FTTH has established itself as the interest representative of textile companies. In 2017 the company split from the employers' association UTICA (Union Tunisians de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat), not least because the envisaged general wage increases for the company's own industrial sector were considered unworkable. But meanwhile, common ground and cooperation have been emphasized again, or FTTH describes itself as part of UTICA, with a high degree of autonomy.

An agreement has now also been reached with the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT). This provides for wage increases of 6.5 percent as of 1 January 2019 and 2020 respectively. This wage increases are thus likely to be lower than the inflation, provided that the forecasts for the inflation rate of around 7.5 percent for the current year 2018 will be that way. Currently, the minimum wage in Tunisia's textile and clothing industry for unskilled job starters is around EUR 129 (as of 07-11-2018) per 48-hour week.

Of the more than 1,600 textile companies, over 1,400 are producing exclusively for export. The target markets are clearly in Europe. More than 60 percent of exports went to France and Italy in 2016, with Germany in third place with about 11 percent. As the largest non-European customer, the USA was ranked ninth with less than one per cent. By joining the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA), Tunisia aims to develop new markets. According to the Ministry of Commerce, bilateral talks are underway with several African countries to provide duty-free market access for Tunisian textiles.

Are Chinese investors discovering Tunisia as a location?
In addition to the relations with the African continent, relations with China could also change in the medium term. At the China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in Beijing in September 2018, Chinese textile companies expressed their interest in Tunisia as a production location. As wages have increased in China in the meantime, a relocation of production to certain sectors of the textile industry could prove useful for the European market.

Exports already increased in 2017. The trend seems to continue in 2018. In 2016 exports were USD 2.9 billion, in 2017 USD 3 billion (a significant increase due to the Dinar's decline in exchange rates (7 billion tD against tD 8.4 billion). According to the first announcements, exports to Europe in the first months of 2018 are expected to have increased again by 3.5 percent compared to 2017. Improving transport and customs clearance should be important for the further development of the textile sector. Especially the companies producing purely for export express this again and again. The textile sector in particular is dependent on short delivery times.

Meanwhile, FTTH is also working to improve the competitive position of Tunisian textile companies on their home market. This applies, for example, to the imports of used clothing for which stricter controls are being desired.

Tunisian imports of machinery, apparatus and equipment for the textile and leather industries and parts thereof (SITC 724; in USD million)

Origin	2015	2016	2017
Total	68.8	67.0	67.3
Italy	15.8	13.7	17.9
China	20.5	12.4	10.6
France	6.5	4.0	7.4
Germany	5.0	6.3	7.2

Note: Thailand was the third largest supplier in 2016, but fell behind in 2017. The table shows the four most important suppliers in 2017
Source: UN Comtrade

In addition to production expansions by German companies, German suppliers could also benefit if the recovery and, above all, structural changes will continue. While total imports of textile and leather machinery fell slightly from around USD 70 million to USD 67 million between 2015 and 2017, German deliveries increased from USD 5 million to USD 7.2 million. (JPS)

Further information on the Chinese commitment in Tunisia can be found online (German only): Link

 

• Almost 1 in 3 pieces of furniture is exported
• 14% of furniture sales now online

At the European press conference in September 2018 in Madrid for imm co-logne/LivingKitchen 2019, Jan Kurth, Chief Executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM), reported on the state of business in the sector:

At the end of an exceptionally hot summer, which has driven consumers to outdoor pools and beer gardens rather than furniture showrooms, the German furniture industry looks back on correspondingly subdued growth in the sector. Following a decline in sales in the second half of 2017, the business climate for manufacturers did improve slightly in the first half of 2018, but the bottom line is that furniture sales have stalled, especially within Germany. While the year began distinctly positively on the back of imm cologne, a significant slowdown in business subsequently set in.
From January to June, sales in the sector reached approximately Euro 9.1 billion, just 1 per cent higher than in the same period of the previous year. Following a 0.7 per cent fall in sales for 2017 as a whole, marked in particular by a negative trend in the second half-year (–1.6%), German furniture manufacturers were thus able to generate slight sales growth, but the situation remains disappointing.

Growth stimulus comes from abroad
This marginal increase in sales was exclusively attributable to international business, since sales outside Germany grew in the first six months by 2.7 per cent in comparison with the same period of the previous year. Domestic sales, on the other hand, stagnated with a minimal rise of 0.3 per cent. Export business benefitted from revived demand in key European sales markets and, increasingly, from the positive economic development in the major growth regions outside the EU. Almost one third of German furniture exports are now sold to non-EU countries.

Results of the latest VDM survey
In summer 2018, the VDM conducted a survey of the economic situation faced by companies in the sector. Participants rated the current business climate as satisfactory (34%) to poor (40%), with only 26 per cent judging it to be good. Compared with summer 2017, the situation for business had worsened in the view of 51 per cent of those surveyed.

State of export business better than domestic market
The disparity between the domestic market and export business is also reflected in the business survey. While most respondents (57%) judged the situation for domestic business as poor, an overwhelming number of manufacturers considered the situation for export business to be good (29%) to satisfactory (56%).

The current difficulties in domestic demand are largely confirmed by the furniture retail sector. Naturally, the long period of high temperatures moved many activities outdoors, but still this explanation falls short. To discover a little more about this, the VDM commissioned a representative study from the prestigious market research institute Kantar TNS, which put the furniture buying behaviour of Germans under the microscope. We were particularly interested to learn where people seek information about furniture and where they buy it. Do they look at advertising supplements in daily newspapers or rather retailers’ websites? Are people increasingly buying furniture online, or is the official sales channel statistic correct, which has been citing an almost stable figure of between 7 and 8 per cent for several years?

Customers increasingly seek information online
First, a look at the information sources. Overall, the furniture store itself – that is to say, looking at furniture in person – remains the most important source of information (68%), followed by brochures from furniture showrooms (54%). But 48 per cent of all those surveyed now use the Internet as a source of information and inspiration. In the younger target groups (<40 years old), the significance of the information source sees a clear shift, with the Internet dominating (77%) but furniture stores still being used by 63 per cent.

When it comes to formal educational attainment, there is a clear correlation with the information sources used. Those with a lower level of education favour brochures and advertising from furniture stores. The higher the level of education, the more buyers actively seek information online.

80% have bought large furniture items in the past 5 years
Online shopping or a trip to the shops? Generally speaking, over 80 per cent of Germans have bought relatively large items of furniture in the past five years. As can be expected, this proportion tails off with increasing age. Of those who bought furniture, 75 per cent carried out this latest transaction in a furniture store. Just under 10 per cent of shoppers bought from a purely online retailer and only 4 per cent purchased via the website of a furniture retailer. This gives a 14 per cent share of sales now taking place online and thus double the figure given out by the official sales channel statistics. In terms of online shoppers, people living alone and the under-30s lead by a clear margin. As young people get older, they are unlikely to move away from online shopping for furniture, and new “Internet savvy” consumers enter the market, the “normality threshold” for the remaining age groups is also expected to fall. There is therefore clearly still a great deal of potential for online furniture sales, and the industry and trade would be well advised to exploit this potential through engaging concepts and information suited to the target groups, moving away from discount and clearance promotions.

Additional online potential
We also see the growth of online business as offering opportunities for the furniture sector as a whole. Firstly, the fixation on prices and discounts is not as pronounced online as in highly concentrated bricks-and-mortar retail. Secondly, the short delivery times and short-notice availability typical of online trading tend to be served more flexibly from internal German sources than from Asia.

Official assessment: sales in the individual segments
According to official statistics, the individual segments in the German furniture industry developed unevenly between January and June 2018. Kitchen furniture manufacturers recorded sales growth of 4 per cent to around Euro 2.5 billion. The office furniture industry reported a distinctly positive result with sales of around Euro 1.1 billion (+7.9%). Manufacturers of shop and contract furniture saw a year-on-year increase of 7.2 per cent and generated sales of around Euro 920 million.

Manufacturers of upholstered furniture registered a noticeable decline, with sales falling by 5.3 per cent to around Euro 480 million from January to June 2018. With a drop of 1.6 per cent to Euro 3.7 billion, the sales performance in household furniture, other furniture and furniture parts was also more negative than the industry average. The smallest segment in the industry – mattresses – recorded the most significant decline in sales of 12.8 per cent to Euro 400 million. This must, however, be put in the context of the above-average growth in sales in this segment in recent years.

Furniture industry generates new jobs
We now take a look at the employment figures for the industry. The 482 businesses currently operating with more than 50 staff (–2.2%) employ 84,300 men and women, which is slightly above (+0.7%) the previous year’s level. Approximately 600 new jobs have been created in the industry in the last year, despite the difficult market conditions.

Compared with the same period of the previous year, German furniture exports in the first half of 2018 grew by 2.2 per cent to Euro 5.5 billion. With an increase of 1.2 per cent, sales to EU countries only crept slightly above the previous year’s level, thus developing much more sluggishly than exports as a whole. Having said this, exports to the German furniture industry’s largest external market, France, achieved growth of 3.5 per cent, and the Dutch (+6.2%), Polish (+10%) and Spanish (+6.1%) markets also saw positive developments from the perspective of the German furniture industry. However, furniture exports to the important sales markets of Austria (–1.3%) and Switzerland (–3.8%) declined.

Negative trend in Great Britain
The furniture industry also clearly felt the negative effects of the Brexit negotiations and the fall in the pound over the course of the previous year, with furniture exports to Great Britain contracting by 8.9 per cent in the first half of 2018. No other major export market performed as badly as the United Kingdom from the perspective of German furniture manufacturers.

Boom in exports to the USA, China and Russia
The key growth markets for German furniture now lie outside the EU. The outstanding performance of German furniture manufacturers in the largest growth markets of the USA (+9.5%), China (+25.9%) and Russia (+14%) is particularly noteworthy. Given the size of each of these markets and the strong demand for high-quality furniture, these figures are sure to see further growth. Other markets outside Europe, such as Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, are currently developing well, although exports to these countries are still at a relatively low level. Overall, the non-EU market is expected to become an important driver for growth for the German furniture industry in the years ahead.

Export ratio up by 32.6%
The industry’s export ratio – that is to say, the proportion of goods shipped directly abroad by domestic furniture manufacturers against total sales by the industry – climbed to 32.6 per cent in the first half of 2018, thereby achieving a new record. The corresponding figure for the first half of 2017 reached 32.1 per cent. This means that the furniture industry’s export ratio has doubled since the turn of the millennium.

Furniture “made in Germany” highly regarded
The success of German furniture manufacturers abroad can be put down to the quality, reliability of supply, design and individuality of our products. German manufacturers often have a better grip on processes and logistics than their international competitors. These are important selling points for consumers – whether they be in Shanghai, St Petersburg or San Francisco.

Greater support for exporters
In view of the increasing importance of exports for the industry, the VDM will be expanding the support it offers exporting companies. A new VDM Export working group aims to encourage dialogue between individual manufacturers, identify the main markets and coordinate export and trade fair activities for the industry as a whole. Information days and workshops for furniture manufacturers will be organised to share industry-specific expertise relating to the individual export markets. Practical tools will also be made available to support the successful involvement of German furniture manufacturers abroad. These additional export activities are intended to help German furniture manufacturers to grow their market share on the world market.

Slight increase in imports
Import competition remains strong: after German furniture imports achieved growth of 0.8 per cent to Euro 12.7 billion for 2017 as a whole, in the first half of 2018 they rose by a further 0.6 per cent to Euro 6.6 billion. However, the trade deficit reduced by 8.1 per cent to around Euro 1.2 billion in the same period as a result of substantially increased exports. Overall, furniture imports to Germany from eastern Europe are increasingly gaining ground from their Asian competitors. Poland enjoyed growth of 7.4 per cent and, as has been the case for a number of years, remained by far the largest source country in terms of furniture volume. Nowadays, more than one in four pieces of furniture (26.3%) imported into Germany originates from our neighbour to the east. The Czech Republic remains the third-largest source of imports with a slight rise of 0.7 per cent. Altogether, imports from EU countries achieved a significant increase of 1.8 per cent. By contrast, imports from Asia fell disproportionately (–5.9%), especially from Vietnam (–12.3%), Taiwan (–13.9%) and Indonesia (–9.8%). Imports from the second-largest originating country, China, declined significantly with a drop of 5.2 per cent. The structure of German furniture imports is highly concentrated, with around 56 per cent of all German furniture imports now attributable solely to the three largest supplier countries: Poland, China and the Czech Republic.

56% of all imports from Poland, China and the Czech Republic
Almost two thirds of participants in the VDM survey expect the business outlook to remain the same in the six months ahead. 24 per cent anticipate an improvement in the situation and just 12 per cent a worsening. According to the assessment of the respondents, the major factors affecting the trading climate in the next six months will be increasing prices of raw materials (33% of respondents), a shortage of skilled personnel (27%), growing pressure from imports (18%) and increasingly protectionist trade policies (9%).

Rising material costs hit the industry hard
The rising cost of materials as regards solid wood are seen as a particular obstacle for development in the sector. Companies in the German furniture industry taking part in the survey report an average increase of 9 per cent in the cost of solid wood when compared with summer 2017. Prices of wood-based materials increased by 5 per cent in the same period, with logistics costs also up by 5 per cent and staffing costs by 3 per cent. Given the market power of purchasing associations, it is not possible to pass on this rise in costs in full to the German furniture retail trade.

Forecast for the current year: +1%
While the contribution of foreign markets to German furniture industry sales is expected to remain positive in the second half-year, in view of the very significant growth in recent times, there are clouds on the horizon as far as domestic trade is concerned. Consumer confidence in Germany is also on the wane. Economic forecasts for this year have recently been revised downwards by leading economists. On this basis, we continue to anticipate sales growth at the end of the year by around 1 per cent in 2018.

 

• Clothing exports are declining 

New Delhi (GTAI) - Structural weaknesses and fiscal reforms are affecting the Indian textile industry. Modernization and diversification are necessary. For this where support measures will come into force.

In the 2016/17 fiscal year (April 1st to March 31st), India's government initiated a number of fundamental reforms such as the introduction of the nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a partial currency devaluation. These measures are intended to advance the economy as a whole in the medium to long term, but have led to uncertainty and difficulties in individual sectors, including the textile industry. Added to this are high cotton prices. The government is now trying to help the industry with individual measures. It remains to be seen whether these will be sufficient and lead to a sustained improvement. Finally, there are structural weaknesses which are also slowing down the growth of the Industry.

"The by the introduction of GST caused dent and monetary depreciation has now been overcome. However, the structural problems remain, so that no fundamental changes in the textile industry are to be expected", according to the assessment of a German supplier with many years of experience in India in talks with Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI).

Government launches aid measures
However, some government measures should provide relief. At the beginning of August 2018, import duties on 328 textile products, especially fabrics and nonwovens, were increased from around 5 to 10 percent to up to 20 percent. Also, at the beginning of the month, the Executive Board introduced four bills to amend the general VAT Act introduced on July 1st 2017. This should make refunds, for example of taxes on intermediate products, easier and faster. The introduction of GST and the delays in reimbursement have put particular pressure on the liquidity of small and medium-sized companies, which make up the bulk of textile companies. For example, the denim industry temporarily had to take 25 to 30 percent of its capacity out of production after the tax introduction.

 Also, the Ministry of Textiles wants to strengthen the to it entrusted weakening industry. At the beginning of August 2018, for example, it added changes to the Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (TUFS), which has been in existence since 1999. This now expanded technology promotion program allows cooperative banks to provide financing to textile companies for technological improvements. They also become accessible for liability partnerships. Of the approximately USD 1.1 billion, that the central government budget is holding for the textile industry in the fiscal year 2018/19, one third, 14 percent more than in the previous year, are intended for the TUFS. Manufacturers of synthetic fibers and the clothing industry in particular are likely to benefit from this, according to industry sources.

The existence of an own Ministry of Textiles shows how important this industry is for India, not only as a source of foreign exchange, but also as an employer. The entire sector, from spinning mills, weaving mills to clothing and other finished goods, contributed around 14 percent to value creation in the manufacturing industry and 13 percent to foreign exchange revenues in 2017, and employs directly 40 million and indirectly 60 million workers.

As one of the world's leading producers of cotton, jute and silk, India has comparative advantages in the textile sector and can look back on a long tradition in processing. Accordingly, cotton is the main raw material in yarn and fabric production. After all, 5.7 billion tons of yarn were spun in 2016/17, achieving an annual average increase of 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2017. The weaving mills processed 63.5 billion square meters of fabric in 2016/17, after 61.7 billion in 2011. The proportion of cotton fabrics rose from 51 to 61 percent in 2011 to 2017. The remaining part is accounted for approximately equally by synthetic and blended fabrics.

 
Production and export growth come to a halt Based on the previously strong growth the government is optimistic. According to forecasts by the Ministry of Textile, India's textile and clothing industry is expected to more than double its sales between 2015 and 2021. Exports are expected to increase from USD 35 billion to USD 82 billion, after doubling in the period from 2006 to 2014 from USD 17.6 billion to USD 37.6 billion. After that, however, they stagnated and, at USD 35 billion in 2017/18 and missed the by the government set target by USD 10 billion. The production of textiles and clothing declined from 2015 to 2017. It is unlikely to improve in 2018.

Textile and clothing industry in India ¹⁾

	2015/16	2016/17 2)	2017/18 2)
Export of textiles and textiles products USD in USD billion	18.1	18.2	18.7
Export of clothing	17.0	17.4	16.7
Import of yarn, fabrics, made-ups in USD billion	1.7	1.5	n.a.
Change of production of textiles in %	-0.2	-3.2	n.a.
Change of production of non-knitted clothing in %	-3.6	-3.3	n.a.

¹⁾ Financial years from 1 April to 31 March; ²⁾ Provisional data for 2016/17 and 2017/18
Source: Statistical Office India
     

Clothing industry needs to modernize 
India's textile industry has cost advantages over industrialized countries and advanced emerging countries such as China. Smaller developing countries, however, have become well-known competitors in the meantime and have partly surpassed India in terms of clothing. So Bangladesh and Vietnam exported more clothing than India. In addition there is growing competition from other low-wage countries such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Some of these countries have free trade agreements with the EU, while India has difficulties in negotiating them. The smaller competitors have also geared their clothing industry to exports and modernized it accordingly. After all, they do not have significant local markets. The Indian textile manufacturers are different: If there is not enough quality for export, the domestic market, which has a population of 1.3 billion inhabitants and is growing strongly, is still there, industry representatives explain to GTAI.

India's apparel industry therefore still has a considerable potential for modernization and requires new production technologies, particularly to improve operating efficiency. Other structural weaknesses include strong wage increases with insufficient productivity growth and a shortage of well-trained skilled workers. Other disadvantages are the fragmentation of the clothing industry - many companies lack size - and the lack of adaptation to global fashion trends. While the fashion world is more prone to fiber mixed fabrics, the Indian clothing is not yet following this trend. There is a lack of product diversification.

The spinning and weaving sector looks more modern. Industry experts attest to it a leading international position in terms of size, technology, productivity, quality and price. This is also evident when importing machines. India was the most important export market for German spinning machines to China in 2017 and the fifth largest market for weaving machines, according to the Textile Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). In textile finishing machinery, India does not rank among the top six export markets, but its competitor Bangladesh does.

Double-digit growth in foreign direct Investment 
Foreign investments in the Indian textile industry are welcome and 100 percent foundations by foreign companies are welcome. On promotional trips to countries such as Japan, Germany, Italy and France, India is actively attracting investors and has not been unsuccessful. The inflow of foreign direct investment into the textile sector, including dyed and printed textiles, amounted to USD 2.7 billion between April 2000 and September 2017. Cumulative investments increased by an annual average of 17.3 percent between 2010 and 2017. However, the bulk of the investment is being stemmed by national Indians. Total investments in India's textile sector from June 2017 to May 2018 amounted to USD 4.2 Billion.

Contact Details

Name	Internet	Remark
Germany Trade & Invest	http://www.gtai.de/indien	Foreign information for the German Export Business
AHK Indien	http://www.indien.ahk.de	Contact for German companies
Ministry of Textiles	http://www.texmin.nic.in	Ministry
Office of Textile Commissioner	http://www.txcindia.gov.in	Government
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry	http://www.citiindia.com	Textile Association
Textile Association India	http://www.textileassociationindia.org	Textile Association India
The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India	http://www.cmai.in	Clothing Association

    

• Prestigious awards, special events, Trend Forum, networking platforms

Kind + Jugend, the leading international trade fair for high-quality baby and toddler products, will once again bring together around 1,200 providers from approximately 50 countries with over 22,000 trade visitors from all over the world. As usual, the spotlight will be on new products and further developments, which the innovative industry regularly presents at the trade fair. Kind + Jugend is bundling its event programme under the heading "Support Circle" in order to systematically document this outstanding pace of innovation within the industry and provide trade visitors with quick access to the most important information. Interesting events and special shows aimed at the needs of the industry offer comprehensive information in a pleasant atmosphere.    
 
Awards
New products and further developments are important market drivers in the innovative baby and children's sector. Kind + Jugend is an excellent marketing platform for companies that want to distinguish themselves with innovations at every phase of their market participation. A key instrument are the award presentations at the trade fair, which are accompanied by attractive special events.

The KIDS DESIGN AWARD honours outstanding concepts and designs in the area of products and furniture for babies and children. This year, a top-class jury has once again selected the most inventive and trendsetting prototypes from a large number of applications. The ten nominated designs show how creative and visionary the industry thinks. The winner will be announced on the Trend Forum stage on the first day of the trade fair on 20 September 2018, at 1 pm. The related special event can be seen in Hall 11.1.

The Innovation Award has been highly regarded within the industry since its inception in 2005.It honours outstanding new developments that are expected to come on the market in the coming season. This year, the international jury has selected the award recipients from almost 200 applications, which is a new record. Prizes will be awarded in eight categories on the Trend Forum stage on the first day of the trade fair on 20 September 2018 at 10 am. The accompanying special event in Hall 11.1 will present all of the award recipients as well as the nominated products.

The Kind + Jugend Consumer Award opens the floor to consumers. Since 2014, international partner magazines and portals have been asking parents about their favourite products. This practical insight into the current requirements of parents and children established itself quickly at Kind + Jugend as a significant indicator of the industry. The surveys are carried out in eight different countries and in various categories, ranging from accessories and safety seats to baby carriages and furniture. The special event with the winners of the Consumer Award takes place in Hall 10.1.

Special events
Besides the special events for the awards, two other presentations show which topics and creative approaches are having an impact on the industry.

The Connected Kidsroom deals with the topic of digitalisation. The event, which was shown for the first time last year, presents ideas and technologies that can be used in baby and children's rooms for greater safety and well-being. As in the previous year, an equally interesting and inspiring presentation also lies ahead for 2018 and will take place in Hall 11.2.

The special DESIGN PARC event will also be stimulating. The Design Parc exhibition features objects, furniture and toys with an extraordinary design and which have already reached market maturity. Eleven different products, including accessories, toys and children's furniture, will be sure to also delight visitors at Kind + Jugend this year with their innovative design.
 
Trend Forum
Which products will be important for parents and children in the future? Which trends will be reflected in children's rooms? Which colours and materials will provide inspiration? The Trend Forum prepares these and other topics that are relevant for the market in keynote speeches. Renowned experts report from practical experience and take a look into the future. Questions about marketing, brand management and licensing are also on the agenda. The experts on stage include trend researchers from GfK, Trendbible and The Insights People. The German Association of Children's Equipment Manufacturers (BDKH) will also provide information about an important topic: the effects of the general data protection regulation. In addition, exhibitors have booked information slots for product presentations.   

All presentations will be held in English and are interesting for both exhibitors and trade visitors alike. The Trend Forum is in Hall 11.1.

 

• Franchising takes off, more and more German retail chains discover Italy

Milan (GTAI) - The Italian retail sector is modernizing and the franchise economy is growing. Italian franchise systems are gaining ground. New modern shopping centers, including the largest in Europe, create space for new shops. German retail chains are expanding in many segments, from discount food and other consumer goods to services. Northern Italy is considered a popular test site. High quality and a price advantage are the keys to success.

The Italian retail sector is changing. The number of classic corner shops is declining, the modern organized retail trade is growing. The franchise economy in particular is developing positively. Beyond the classical areas such as food and fashion, various Italian franchise systems are spreading more and more visibly in the big cities.
 
According to the industry association Assofranchising, the franchise industry had a turnover of approximately EUR 24.6 billion in 2017. This represents an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the previous year and an increase of 5.7 percent since 2014. With a similar number of systems (929 in Italy, 972 in Germany), the German franchise industry generated almost five times as much turnover. One reason for this is that German franchise systems have on average more than three times as many businesses per franchise.

Development of the franchise economy in Italy

	2016	2017	Change (in %)
Sales (Euro Mio.)	23,930	24,545	2.6
Franchise systems	950	929	-2.2
Businesses	50,720	51,671	1.9
Italian businesses abroad	7,871	10,079	28.1
Italian businesses abroad (min. 3 companies)	169	179	5.9
Foreign systems in Italy	61	71	16.4
Employees	195,303	199,260	2.0
Average size of systems in Italy (number of companies)	53.4	55.6	4.2
Average size of Italian systems abroad (number of companies)	46.6	56.3	20.9

   Source: Rapporto Assofranchising 2018

But the segment is catching up in Italy. Italian franchise systems are expanding, also abroad. Outside Italy, their number increased by around 6 percent in 2017, while their average size (measured by the number of businesses) increased by around 21 percent. The domestic average dimension is also growing. The country is also becoming more attractive for foreign franchisors. In 2017, the number of foreign franchise systems increased by 16 percent. The relevant trade fair is the Salone Franchising, which will take place from October 25th to 27th 2018 in Milan.   

New shopping centers are driving the developments forward
Developments in the retail sector are accompanied by new construction projects. A number of new shopping centers are currently under construction in Italy, creating space for the new generation of franchises and retail chains. The major CityLife project on the former Milan exhibition grounds is a current example. In addition to two of the three planned skyscrapers (including Allianz's new headquarter in Italy), a new shopping center was inaugurated in autumn 2017. Particularly in the catering sector new Italian chains, which are expanding nationwide, can be seen. A new gastronomy floor with restaurants and cafés in the middle price segment was recently inaugurated at the Termini railway station in Rome.

A number of modern shopping centers are still under construction, including the new Westfield Milan. Project operators describe it as the largest shopping center in Europe. With an investment EUR 1.4 billion Westfield Milan is to be inaugurated in 2020. The majority of the new construction projects are located in the larger cities in the north, but Rome and Naples will soon receive new shopping centers also.

Shopping centers under construction in Italy

Designation	Investment (Mio. Euro)	Area (1,000 sqm)	Completion	Remarks
Westfield, Milan	1,400	60	2020	http://www.westfieldcorp.com
Maximo, Rome	300	61	2019	Cushman & Wakefield
Emilia Shopping District, Parma	200	74	2019	http://www.sonaesierra.com
Maximall Pompeii, Napoli	150	200	2019	http://www.maximall.it/pompeii
Falcon Malls Cascina Merlata, Milan	n.a.	65	2021	http://falconmalls.it
Falcon Malls Concordia, Milan	n.a.	131	2021	http://falconmalls.it
Waltherpark Shopping - Bozen	23	k.A.	2021	https://waltherpark.com

    Source: Research of Germany Trade & Invest

Opportunities for German retail chains
Another trend in Italy is the expansion of German retail chains. One growth area is the market for discount foods. According to Nielsen, discounters had a market share of 17 percent of the sold food at the end of 2017. The market leader is Eurospin from Italy, followed by Lidl. In 2018 Aldi opened its first store in northern Italy and by the end of 2018 it is planned to open 45 stores. Lidl is defending itself against its new competitor with planned investments in Italy amounting to EUR 350 mio for a new inner-city store concept. A total of 40 new points of sale are planned, and a further 50 stores are to be modernized.

Both German supermarket chains confirm that a local strategy for Italian gourmets is indispensable. Lidl sources 80 percent of its food products from Italy, while Aldi's share is almost as high at 75 percent.

In terms of price, the recipe for success of the German retail chains is somewhat different from Germany. Although German retailers continue to score with a good price-performance ratio, the focus in Italy is on the mid-price segment.

The latest example is the drugstore chain dm. The first branch was inaugurated at the end of 2017. There are plans to open 100 stores in northern Italy by 2020. dm offers not only a price advantage over its Italian competitors, but also high-quality products. In addition, there are hardly any "one-stop shops" in Italy, which are also drugstores, but also sell beauty products, organic and natural products as well as baby products.   

The Douglas perfumery chain is expanding also in Italy. At the end of 2017, Douglas' parent company completed the acquisition of two of the leading perfumeries in Italy, Limoni and La Gardenia.    

Fielmann is another example of a German chain that has conquered the Italian market in recent years with high-quality products and a price advantage. With entry into the South Tyrol market and ongoing expansion in northern Italy, Fielmann is popular with Italian consumers despite the large competing manufacturers of glasses in Italy due to its price advantages.

Germany's successful model is not limited to food and other consumer goods. The Berlin-based company Flixbus is an example that the concept of quality and price competition can also be successfully applied to the service sector. Flixbus has been in Italy since 2015 and the number of passengers is increasing constantly. In 2017, 40 million Italians were on the road with Flixbus, twice as many as the year before. Italy is the fastest growing market among 26 countries for the company.

• The important trade fair platform for entry into the Chinese consumer market with China's most influential consumer group for the fashion and beauty sector with the strongest growth in consumption - the millennials - as target group
• The international fashion showcase for decision makers with an overview of na-tional and international fashion brands
• Strategic market development through comprehensive visitor marketing for inter-national brands at CHIC

 
CHIC, China International Fashion Fair presents around 800 exhibitors in an exhibition space of approx. 50,000 sqm (CHIC in March 100,000 sqm) in two halls from 27 to 29 September 2018 at the National Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai.
The current conditions for international fashion companies in the Chinese market offer significant improvements for international brands. Import tariffs will be lowered from 15.9% to 7.1% to further promote the import and upgrade of the industry.  

The McKinsey study "THE `Chinese consumer´ no longer exists” defines Chinese consumers no longer as interested only in low prices, but as selective, healthconscious with diverse shopping hab-its and preferences. The fashion awareness changes to an individual sense of style, influenced by international and national trends. China's millennials are the WORLD'S most influential consumer group, with a 16% share of the population, driving consumption growth in the Chinese market and contributing more than 20% from today until 2030.  
 
According to the edition's motto "New Makers", Asia's leading fashion fair is picking up on the latest changes in the Chinese fashion market and providing the essential tools for the Chinese market. The new, young design of the fair, which was launched in March this year at CHIC, is being ex-panded. The individual sections of CHIC present the latest trends in the Chinese and international fashion market. CHIC connects and brokers partnerships and launches the new generation gar-ment industry, which builds on high-tech strategies and interlinks industrial production with modern information and communication technologies, relying on intelligent, digitally networked systems in self-organized production.

The individual fashion areas of CHIC  
FASHION JOURNEY puts the focus on interna-tional exhibitors. In addition to the large Italian pavilion, the French pavilion "Paris Forever" and the Korean show-inshow "Preview in China", in-dividual participants from Poland, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and the USA use CHIC as a bridge in the Chinese market. The next German group participation is planned for March 2019, whereby Germany will also be rep-resented with individual brands such as ESISTO in the area NEW LOOK.

IMPULSES, CHIC's designer section, features emerging designer brands such as Junne, Hua Mu Shen, King Ping, Anjaylia, Mao Mart homme, Tuffcan, etc.

The SUSTAINABILITY ZONE, first showcased at CHIC in the fall of 2017, is receiving even greater emphasis due to the increasing environmental and health awareness of Chinese consum-ers, featuring sustainable supply chain solutions, sustainable innovation and sustainable fashion collections. Programs such as Chemical Stewardship 2020, Carbon Stewardship 2020, Water Stewardship 2020 and Circular Stewardship 2020 are presented. The womenswear section NEW LOOK of CHIC presents next to the leading Chinese brands like AVRALA, and CMH also international brands like Saint James from France, ESISTO from Ger-many, Trenz Eight from Canada or PN JONE, USA.

Beside the suppliers of classic menswear, URBAN VIEW, the menswear section, also includes casualwear brands like NRDMA and SUPIN as well as bespoke companies like H. Pin& Tack, Jin Yuan Yang, Fa Lan Qian Mu, Long Sheng and DANDINGHE.
CHIC YOUNG BLOOD shows young lifestyle brands, KID'S PARADISE offers e.g the largest fashion group in China for children's fashion XTEP KIDS.

SECRET STARS (fashion accessories), SHANGHAI BAG (bags), HERITAGE (leather & fur), SUPERIOR FACTORY (ODM) and FUTURE LINK (services) complete the fashion offer at CHIC. FUTURE LINK gathers fashion service providers for among others supply chain solutions, smart retail and smart production, RFID, laser technology and data utilization.

Visitor management
On the rise in China's retail scene, multi brand and custom stores are the fastest growing offline sector. The number has increased significantly in the last five years from less than 100 to more than 5,000 stores. Exclusive shopping experiences and an individual offer are important. Custom-ers value a wide range of products: a mix of international and national exclusive brands is the most common concept.

The high investments of the CHIC organizers in the visi-tor management for the fair pay off: CHIC has a per-sonalized trade visitor database of over 200,000 con-tacts, which are used intensively for the visitor marketing in the run-up to the fair for a commercial matching for the exhibitors. At the fair, VIP match making activities will take place especially for selected international brands, that will have the opportunity to present them-selves there and make the relevant contacts in the Chi-nese trade. Meetings are organized among others with multi brand stores and buyers such as The Fashion Door, Dong Liang, Jing Dong, VIP Shop and department stores, and retailers such as Carrefour, Amazon, De-cathlon, Wang Fujing, etc. An important tool for the CHIC visitor marketing is social media; for this special programs are run, in which individual brands are pre-sented to prospective visitors.    

CHIC is visited by representatives of all distribution channels for distribution in the Chinese market, at the last event in autumn 2017 more than 65,722 visitors from all over China and other nations were registered at the CHIC, with a significant increase in multi brand stores.
 
Seminars and shows
The future of fashion business in China will be discussed in a panel of experts as part of CHIC TALKS. Furthermore, a trend seminar from WGSN for FW 2019 and a workshop on bag and shoe production from the Moda Pelle Academy are planned.

CHIC shows provide an overview of selected international brands.

CHIC is organized by Beijing Fashion Expo. Co. ltd. and China World Exhibitions, supported by China National Garment Association, The Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT) and China World Trade Center.

• Exports increase
• Domestic demand rises

Poland strengthens its position as a major furniture producer. Many companies are expanding their capacities. The industry structure is very fragmented. Among the small to large companies, a certain consolidation trend is noticeable. There are also numerous micro-companies on the market. Furniture exports are expected to increase again in 2018, and the demand for housing, office and shop fittings is also growing in the country itself.

Poland is an important producer of furniture that is heavily exported, especially to Germany. The producers are expanding their capacities: For example, at the end of October 2017 the Austrian company Egger started construction of a large chipboard factory in the south of Biskupiec (Bischofsburg), which is scheduled to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2018. It is being built on 85 hectares of land within the Warmia-Masuria Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and is expected to produce around 650,000 cubic meters of slabs annually.

The value of this investment amounts to almost EUR 240 million. The products are intended for both domestic and foreign customers. They should meet strict environmental standards and be up to 30 percent of recycled wood. 400 new jobs will be created in the new factory itself and another 600 will be created in cooperating companies.

An important buyer of chipboard will be the furniture industry, which also invests by itself. According to the daily Rzeczpospolita, the company Meble Wojcik plans to build a production facility as well as a warehouse and logistics warehouse for a total of EUR 12 million. These are to be equipped with automated production lines and logistic equipment. In addition, the further development of the IT system is planned so that the production can be adapted very fast to individual customer requirements. The investment project will create at least 120 jobs. The sales of Meble Wojcik in 2017 amounted to more than EUR 100 million.

New sawmill planned
A project of comparable value is being undertaken by the manufacturer of upholstery furniture DFM, which wants to produce wood frame elements in Dobre Miasto (Guttstadt). A modern sawmill is being built there, the construction elements of which are not only intended for DFM itself, but for other customers also.

The furniture manufacturer Szynaka Meble wants to raise more than EUR 5.3 million to build a new warehouse in Ilawa (German Eylau). There 30 employees will be employed. Among other things, the procurement of a modern software for material management is planned.

The six plants of Szynaka Meble produced furniture worth around EUR 235 million in 2017 (on a zloty basis) +5 percent compared to 2016. For 2018 the company expects a growth of 15 percent, mainly due to increased exports to North America, where it intends to sell one-fifth of its production.

Location of the Meble Wojcik, DFM and Szynaka Meble projects is also the Warmia-Masuria SEZ, located in a wood rich area. According to press reports, the manufacturer of shop fittings Modern-Expo plans to build a factory in Lublin. In the first three quarters of 2017, the Polish furniture industry invested a total of around EUR 200 million, according to the main office of CIS. On a zloty basis, the amount stagnated compared to the same period of the previous year.

The sector structure is fragmented
The furniture industry plays an important role in the Polish industry. Around 25,800 companies in Poland are involved in the manufacture of furniture and interiors. Nevertheless, elements and components are also imported, including from Germany. More than 90 percent of the companies are micro-companies, which, according to the market research firm B + R Studio, together however account for 10 percent of the domestic sales only. Only about 90 companies are classified as being large. Together with the approximately 320 medium-sized companies, they sell about three quarters (76 percent) of the relevant products. Small businesses account for a part of 14%. According to CIS at the end of 2017 there were around 161,000 employees in the furniture industry, around 6,000 more than the year before - (+4 percent).

Turnover of Polish furniture manufacturers (in EUR billion)

2013	2014	2015	2016	2017 1)	2018 2)
7.5	8.4	9.3	10.0	10.5	11.1

1) Estimation; 2) Forecast

Source: B+R Studio

For 2018 B + R Studio expect total domestic sales of more than EUR 11 billion, which represents a 3.1% increase on Zloty basis compared to 2017. For years the market leader has been the Polish subsidiary of the Swedish Ikea Group, with revenues of around EUR 1 billion in 2016. Far off is the domestic group Black Red White, which raised a total of EUR 335 million in 2016. It estimates its turnover in 2017 at around EUR 400 million (on Zloty basis +16 percent); the export share is 35 percent.

The company Nowy Styl, which specializes in office furniture and chairs, comes third, with revenues estimated at EUR 340 million in 2017 (+8 percent compared to 2016). The mattress manufacturer Correct follows with a turnover of EUR 291 million in 2016, ahead of the stock exchange listed company Fabryka Mebli Forte with EUR 252 million, which aims to reach EUR 400 million revenues for 2020. Forte will take its 5th factory in operation in late 2019 / early 2020, increasing its production capacity to 6.5 million pieces of furniture annually.

Of importance is also the manufacturer of upholstery furniture Com.40 Limited. Seating is by far the most important category of furniture produced in Poland, accounting for almost half of the total sales.

Exports revive
According to the B + Studios the furniture exports are expected to rise to EUR 10.6 billion in 2018. On a zloty basis this means an increase of about 2 percent compared to 2017 with an estimated EUR 10.1 billion, when the exports fell by 1 percent. Domestic demand for furniture is also increasing thanks to residential and commercial property construction. The increasing purchasing power of the population also makes it possible to replace old facilities with new ones. Imports complement the offer of domestic industry.

Furniture sales in Poland (in EUR billion)

2013	2014	2015	2016	2017 1)	2018 2)
1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.5

1) Estimation; 2) Forecast

Source: B+R Studio

The industry is suffering from an increasing labor shortage, which leads to higher wages. According to CIS, the average gross wages in 2017 were EUR 833 per month compared to EUR 738 in 2016. On Zloty basis, this corresponds to a nominal growth of 7.3 per cent.

Contact addresses:

Ogolnopolska Izba Gospodarcza Producentow Mebli (OIGPM)
(Polish Chamber of Commerce of Furniture Producers)
Contact: Michal Strzelecki
Al. Stanow Zjednoczonych 51, pok. 614
04-028 Warszawa, Polen
T +48 (0)22 517 78 39
oigpm@oigpm.org.pl
http://www.oigpm.org.pl

B+R Studio Analizy Rynku Meblarskiego
Market research institute for the furniture market:
Head of the Analysis Department: Martin Czyrnia
MD Connect Sp.z o.o.
ul. Oleska 35
46-380 Dobrodzien, Polen
T +48/507 96 66 23
brstudio@brstudio.eu
http://brstudio.eu

Furniture producers	Internet addresses
Egger	http://www.egger.com
Meble Wojcik	http://www.meblewojcik.com.pl
DFM	http://www.dfm.com.pl
Szynaka Meble	http://www.szynaka.pl

 
  

Heimtextil is pushing ahead with the new concept for 2019: now that those responsible have worked out a completely new hall plan, they are turning their attention to redesigning the trend programme. With a meeting of international trend researchers on 20 and 21 February in Frankfurt am Main, the design experts have begun preparations for the trends of the upcoming Heimtextil (8-11 January 2019) at an unprecedented early stage.

‘The Heimtextil trends have enjoyed a worldwide reputation for decades. Showcased in the extensive and progressive way that they are, they are an essential component of our trade fair’, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. ‘That's why it is very important to us that we continue to live up to our pioneering role with our new trend concept and offer our exhibitors and visitors a future-oriented programme. In the future, we will strengthen this showcasing above all at the digital level’.
 
Starting with the meeting in Frankfurt, trend researchers from three European offices are working on the Heimtextil trends 2019/20. The British design studio FranklinTill will once again play a leading role and is responsible for the implementation of the Trendbook. The Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (Netherlands) and SPOTT Trends & Business (Denmark) have joined forces with them to form the new Heimtextil Trend Council.

During the two-day workshop, the three agencies compiled insights into current trends in interior design, architecture, fashion and art. They focused on developments in materials and textures, colours and patterns. Finally, they defined stylistically formative design themes from which a globally applicable trend forecast will be worked out in the coming months.

New: “Trend Space” in hall 3.0
When it comes to showcasing trends at the trade fair, Heimtextil will receive support from the Frankfurt agency Atelier Markgraph. As a specialist for communication within spaces, Atelier Markgraph is planning an interactive, future-oriented exhibition that will immerse trade fair visitors in the world of trends 2019/2020 using analogue/digital experience formats. In future, the trend showcase will be called “Trend Space”, replacing the previous “Theme Park”. Those responsible for this change have chosen hall 3.0 as the new location. As part of the new Heimtextil concept, the “Trend Space” can be found in close proximity to international textile designers, CAD/CAM suppliers and digital printer manufacturers. Heimtextil is thus bringing the progressive themes of trends, textile design and digital printing together on one hall level, creating an area full of inspiration and future technologies. Hall 3.0 – exclusively for exhibitors – will be opened on the eve of Heimtextil on 7 January 2019.

Preview: Trend presentation in late summer
The results of the trend researchers will be recorded in the new Heimtextil Trendbook. Exhibitors at Heimtextil will be sent the Trendbook in advance to assist in their product design and collections. Together with the Trend Council, those responsible for the trade fair will provide an initial insight into the new trends on 4 September. For this purpose, Heimtextil will invite representatives of the press to a preview, the framework of which will also be redesigned.   
 
The following design studios are working on Heimtextil 2019:

The design studio FranklinTill (United Kingdom) will be taking on the main responsibility for the development of the Heimtextil Trends 2019/2020. With its headquarters in London, the studio comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broad-ranging, international network of creatives and visionaries. The multidisciplinary agency's varied projects include  trend reports, colour forecasts, design realisations, brand developments and curating trade fairs and exhibitions. In addition to agency founders Kate Franklin and Caroline Till, Titia Dane will also be working on Heimtextil. www.franklintill.com

Anne Marie Commandeur from the Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (Netherlands) manages a team of designers who focus on textile innovations, predictions, colour trends and strategic design concepts. The agency acts as a versatile and dynamic force in the industry and keeps fashion companies and fashion-related companies up to date on the most important developments. This year, researcher Emma Wessel is supporting Anne Marie Commandeur at Heimtextil. www.stijlinstituut.nl

SPOTT Trends & Business (Denmark) advises Scandinavian lifestyle brands with issues relating to consumer insights, trend and colour forecasts. SPOTT aims at the individual development of brands and combines trend research with neuroscience and commercial expertise. Anja Bisgaard Gaede is the founder of SPOTT. In addition to her work as a consultant, she has given many presentations over the past ten years, and has also published a reference book. www.spottrends.dk

Atelier Markgraph (Germany) designs rooms that communicate and stimulate communication. For more than 30 years, the design studio has supported its clients in creating immersive experiences in the areas of conflict where culture, business and science intersect. At the interface of digital and analogue communication, a 60-strong interdisciplinary team translates central themes and brand messages into directly tangible scenarios: from exhibitions and showrooms to exhibition stands, media installations and AR applications. www.markgraph.de

 

Hardly any other industry combines technology and design so skilfully as the industry for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems. The visitors of R+T 2018 in Stuttgart can see this for themselves when the new awning cloth collections are presented.

The products and services being showcased from 27 February to 3 March 2018 in a total of ten exhibition halls at R+T in Stuttgart also impress with a high level of innovation. The exhibiting companies have also managed to focus on innovation particularly in the area of awning cloths. For instance, the visitors can look forward to the new awning cloth collections which are on show at the trade fair.

"The collection changes every five years, this time in the R+T year. As a result, there will be all sorts to see in this segment at the world's leading trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems, whereby outdoor living spaces can be designed stylishly and sustainably", states Wolfgang Rudorf-Witrin, President of the ITRS (Industrial Association for Technical Textiles, Roller Shutters and Sun Protection). During the development of the design a lot of importance was attached to the users' comfort with the awning cloths and there is something available for virtually every requirement.

Fresh from the think tank
With the new collection Sattler not only appeals to the visual senses of customers, but other senses too. "With Lumera 3D Surface it has been possible to introduce genuine and also perceptible structures to the cloth for the first time", explains Markus Szotrell, President of Sattler Germany. This effect is achieved by now inserting the Clean Brilliant Acrylic yarn (CBA) into the thread in combination with the staple fibre yarn. The colour concept of the new collection is an extract of the current colour trends from all areas of the immediate living space. "Near-natural, monochrome colours, i.e. colours of earthy, stony and metallic shades, are having more and more of an impact", adds Markus Szotrell. In surfaces such as gold, chrome, limestone, marble or granite, there are enough patterns to show this new colour which according to the colour analyses by Sattler is bang on trend. Markus Szotrell: "That's why we decided on the name Lumera 3D Surface."

Parà also has a new collection ready for R+T 2018 in Stuttgart. "The Tempotest collection contains over 500 variants and includes historical evergreens as well as brand new textile concepts never seen before", reports Matteo Parravicini, member of the Executive Board at Parà. For example, for the fabric "wild silk" the focus is on natural irregularity, whereas the "lifestyle" fabric knows how to convince with its complex textile structure. "The market is becoming increasingly complex and we have responded with a broad offer of over 140 plain colours", adds Matteo Parravicini.

Dickson completely changed its focus for the development of the new collection.
"Previously collections were directed more on what happened yesterday, now the focus is on what will be", explains Lars Rippstein, President of Dickson-Constant. This realignment consciously focuses on the significance of plain colour shades. "These findings are based on the first-ever comprehensive and representative consumer study", reports Lars Rippstein. The new collection arrangement is design-oriented and a total of three areas were created. "Graphic" contains pastel and structured plain colours as well as subtle stripes and graphic jacquard patterns. "Colour" represents natural green, sunny yellow and fiery red shades in tone-in-tone stripe patterns. Lars Rippstein: "With the "Essential" palette we show diverse designs in six different colour ranges: grey, green, blue, red and pink, yellow and orange, as well as beige and brown. On the whole the collection is more modern and we are convinced that our partners will be successfully positioned with it."

Overview of trends
The visitors of R+T 2018 in Stuttgart can already look forward to a broad range of designs with which they can impress and inspire their own customers. With the new awning cloth collections it is easy to find the right cloth for every requirement and thus set standards in the outdoor area both in terms of quality and design orientation - including a comfort factor.