From the Sector

The 48^th INNATEX is opening its doors at the Messecenter Rhein-Main in Hofheim-Wallau from 31 July to 2 August 2021. More than 200 labels are poised to appear at the international trade fair for sustainable textiles. Following a long string of industry gatherings being cancelled due to COVID-19, the summer trade fair is a first opportunity for the sector to get together. All visitors are required to register digitally  in advance of the fair.

The pandemic has presented an opportunity to launch new projects. They include a special zone created in collaboration with GIZ GmbH, the German society for international development, which will shine a light on African designers. 13 labels from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda will present their ideas for sustainable textiles and fashion products.

The starting point for the special area is a virtual trade fair, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. GIZ GmbH has realised the joint project in cooperation with several partners; its physical extension can be visited at INNATEX.

Exhibitors include well-known pioneers and young newcomers
The IVN (International Association of Natural Textile Industry), which sponsors INNATEX, is staging its own pop-up showroom. In doing so, the association is creating its own curated space, showcasing the diversity and special features of its members. The future objective is to expand this space with the organiser to create a growing Concept Area that introduces visitors to different ways of presenting green fashion.

Besides the IVN, the Global Organic Textile Standard, the Green Button and Fairtrade are among the other standardisation bodies represented at the fair. In addition, a special exhibition entitled “Fashion in the Hood” (Fashion im Kiez) and delivered by the young interest group “Frankfurt Fashion Movement”, helps visitors join the dots in the fashion industry. Among the labels exhibiting at the fair for the first time are Active Wear by Klitmøller Collective from Denmark, Organic Fashion by Bibico from the UK and Italian sneaker brand ACBC.

• Successful concept to be continued in 2022

For three years now, the Trevira CS joint fair booth, where Trevira, its customers and partners present their new ideas within the framework of an innovative creative concept, has been an established and popular feature of Heimtextil. In 2021, the international trade fair for home and contract textiles is planned to take place from 12-15 January in Frankfurt/Main. However, as a result of the numerous uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus crisis, Trevira has decided that it will not take part next year.

“Messe Frankfurt has shown us its comprehensive hygiene concept and plans and there is no question that their plans fully meet health and safety requirements,” explained Trevira CEO Klaus Holz. “But at Trevira, we are also very much aware of our responsibilities. Our joint booth concept is not only on an extensive scale, but it is also built around the idea of communication. This makes it even more important that we consider the potential risks involved and how they could impact our customers, co-exhibitors, visitors and staff.” Given the uncertainty as to how the situation might develop in the future, Trevira has decided it has no option but to withdraw from next year’s fair and postpone its participation in Heimtextil until 2022. This decision has been made in agreement with parent company Indorama Ventures PCL (Thailand), which has put stringent measures in place to keep its staff and customers safe. As a result, the concern and its subsidiaries are not currently participating in any trade fairs.

At the 2020 Heimtextil, Trevira exhibited together with around 30 of its major Trevira CS customers with a joint booth whose total floor area measured over 2,000 msq. The number of partners exhibiting alongside Trevira has increased steadily over the past three years, and the Trevira display, along with many of the newest flame retardant Trevira CS collections from its customers, has always been hugely popular at the fair, especially in Hall 4.2, where it has continually attracted a very high number of visitors. As a joint booth, it has benefited especially from the vibrant and positive discussions among visitors and exhibitors, together with the various events that accompany the display. Usually, these included a press conference and a party held at the new stand. Trevira’s Heimtextil presence in the past three years has strengthened and expanded the position of Trevira CS as the leading brand for flame retardant home textiles.

CEO Klaus Holz said, “As a regular exhibitor at Heimtextil for many years, we found this decision extremely difficult. We greatly regret that we will not be able to bring our joint booth to Heimtextil next year. However, we plan to return in 2022 with a fair booth offering visitors and partners the high quality they have come to expect of us, with brand new ideas and measures in place to ensure its success”.