From the Sector

As global business activities pick up towards the back end of the year, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2023 closed its doors last week, ending a successful three days of trade at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). From 16 – 18 August 2023, 1,034 exhibitors (up 38.1%) from 13 countries and regions crossed paths with over 32,000 visitors (up 59.2%) from 96 countries and regions, more than 10% of which were overseas buyers. In a further testament to this edition’s internationality, new exhibitor countries and regions represented were Indonesia, Portugal, Taiwan (China), Turkey, and the US. With buyers able to source products covering the whole home textile value chain, and a fringe programme that transcended the norm, the international platform has once again marked its importance at bridging trade and communication within the industry and across sectors, circulating trade benefits to every edge of the globe.

As the country perhaps most well-known for its immense market and prolific manufacturing hubs, for the past several decades China has been a desirable business destination for international traders. In a positive step in March, the government relaxed pandemic control measures, enabling a return to cross-border, in-person business activities. This led to a strong increase of international exhibitors and buyers at the recently concluded fair, with visitors flying in from as far away as Africa, Europe, and South America. In addition, three country and region pavilions, from Belgium, Taiwan (China), and Türkiye, added some location-specific internationality to proceedings in Shanghai, and were well-received by fairgoers.

Speaking at the show’s curtain call, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “With China’s doors widely opened to the world again, we were pleased to welcome so many new and returning international participants to the fairground over the past three days. Across the four halls, not only was the visitor flow strong, but the booths were busy and business interactions were high. The increase in overseas exhibitors, and the return of several country and region pavilions, has meant even more diversified sourcing options for our devoted buyers from home and abroad. After overcoming some global turbulence, we have strengthened this bridge to help industry players reconnect, and redirect themselves towards the new, post-pandemic era.”

Cross-sector collaboration a key highlight of the fringe programme
Enhancing the constant buzz on the show floor, the fair’s concurrently held fringe events saw upstream and downstream suppliers, industry insiders, and even inter-industry guests share some pertinent insights and innovations. This year, a series of mixed events delved into topics related to interior design trends, sustainability, new technologies, globalised and localised designs, health and wellness, and many more. One highlight was the International Intertextile Trend Forum 2023 – 2024, which illustrated the most in-vogue home designs for the upcoming season. More specific inspiration was provided by leading Japanese furniture brand IKASAS, whose exclusive seminar and display area showcased fresh home textile applications for furniture. Finally, a cross-sector conference hosted by the CRECC Full Decoration Council invited experts from both the real estate and furnishing sectors to help attendees broaden their business possibilities.

The 2024 Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition will take place from 6 – 8 March, while the Autumn Edition is scheduled for 14 – 16 August 2024. The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).

İşbir Bedding, a Turkish company, has teamed up with Hologenix® and its CELLIANT® infrared technology. The Energy CELLIANT® mattress is the first pure white CELLIANT mattress to be offered in Turkey. It marries the sleep technology of İşbir mattresses with the advantages of CELLIANT, a natural blend of bioceramic minerals which, when embedded into textiles, converts body heat into infrared energy to help consumers sleep better and recover faster from physical activity.

the Energy CELLIANT mattress has a cover infused with CELLIANT, a high-density, next-generation ViscoStar Aeromax Comfort Layer that adapts to the body and a V2 Active Zone Pocket Spring Support Layer, which consists of specially designed 7-zone pocket springs. The Energy CELLIANT mattress is suitable for any sleep position and ideal for users who prefer a medium to firm mattress. The mattress is also available in a variety of sizes for both junior and adult athletes.

The Energy CELLIANT mattress helps the body recover after sports or intense activity thanks to the infrared technology and comfort layers. The CELLIANT fabric helps the body thermoregulate, whether you run hot or cold, for a more comfortable sleep experience. CELLIANT minerals help to increase energy levels by reflecting body heat lost during sleep back to the body in the form of infrared energy, so consumers wake up refreshed.

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will be presenting new applications for its European environmentally-friendly Evolon® microfiber technology for Fall/Winter 24/25 fashion and leather goods collections at Lineapelle, from September 19-21. These include solutions for artificial leather applications suitable for the shoe, furniture and automotive industries.

Evolon® sustainable microfiber coating substrates
Evolon® microfiber fabrics are ideal coating substrates for artificial leather applications in the shoe, furniture and car industries. They are particularly suitable as a carrier material for PU and PVC coatings. Evolon® microfiber materials have non-fraying edges, which makes converting easier and quicker. They contain 80% recycled PET from Freudenberg’s in-house bottle recycling plant. Furthermore, they are manufactured with no solvent and no chemical binder in the company’s Evolon® plant located in Colmar, France. The plant is accredited according to OEKO-TEX STeP sustainability manufacturing certification and the DETOX TO ZERO criteria. European manufacturing offers logistic benefits to European customers through shorter supply chain and transport routes.

Reinforcement material for leather goods
Manufacturers of leather goods also benefit from Evolon® microfiber when they use it as a reinforcement material for original leather. It is drapable and soft and provides optimal shaping support for leather. In addition, Evolon® materials offer important sustainability advantages for the manufacturing of luxury leather bags, such as being 100% made in Europe, eco-friendly and socially-responsible production, and the use of recycled raw materials.

Following a strong start at the Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles early this year, global industry players have turned their sights to the next international event in August. As the first Autumn Edition to be held in the wake of China lifting many of its pandemic-related border restrictions, the three-day fair will gather around 1,000 international and domestic exhibitors. Traders looking to meet market demand will be able to source from an extensive range of trending and specialised home and contract textile products from 16 – 18 August 2023.

According to a recent market report, the global home textile market is expected to show a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 – 2028 to reach USD 174.1 billion by the end of the forecast period. Asia-Pacific has dominated the global market in recent years, with China one of its most significant contributors.^[1]

As a manufacturing hub for home textiles, China is gradually recovering from social and business disruptions caused by the pandemic. Speaking at the recent Spring Edition, Ms Rosemary Li, Domestic Sales Manager of Zhangjiagang Coolist Life Technology Co Ltd, a long-time exhibitor specialised in bio-based and functional bedding products, said: “Since China relaxed its pandemic-related control and prevention measures, after Chinese New Year we have been flooded with orders. With both domestic and export orders increasing, it has been almost impossible for the production line to fulfil the order demand.”

While the spring show’s promising visitor flow was a positive start to the Chinese home textile industry’s post-pandemic era, a higher participation of overseas exhibitors and buyers is expected at the upcoming Autumn Edition

The return of special zones and international pavilions
Later this year in Shanghai, exhibitors will showcase their most up-to-date home and contract textile products, ranging from bedding & towelling, rugs, table & kitchen linen, upholstery & curtain fabrics, editors, home textile technologies and textile design. With a wealth of choices for buyers, several show highlights are listed below:

• Editor & Designer Zone: located in hall 5.1, the zone will feature international, high-end editor and designer brands brought by leading exhibitors J&C, Julai, Qianbaihui, Prestigious, Shanghai Lotus, SohoCut, Yada, and more.
• Country and region pavilions: premium suppliers from Belgium, Türkiye and Taiwan (China) will exhibit quality products in their designated pavilions in hall 6.1.
• Textile Designs: textile design studios from Japan, Portugal and Taiwan (China), namely Amilia Design Studio, Fine Art Inc and Tela's Design Lda, will also showcase their seasonal designs in hall 6.1.

Adding to buyers’ sourcing options, a multitude of domestic players from different categories will also showcase their respective products. Highlighted exhibitors include top curtain and curtain fabric suppliers Fu-Tex, Hangzhou Aico, Hexin and Xiaoxuanchuang; bedding suppliers Coolist, Huizhou Wah Shing and Yantai North Home; as well as Hightex, Huatex, Maya and Suzhou Roufang from the upholstery and sofa fabric sector.

Fairgoers can also learn more about the upcoming global trends and designs by visiting the ‘2023 – 2024 Intertextile International Lifestyle Trend’ area. In aid of this, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has joined forces with NellyRodi™, the renowned French forecasting agency, to present the design theme for 2023 – 2024: ‘ALIVE’. HUMAN CAPITAL, ROUSING COMMITMENT and UNREAL REALITIES are the theme’s three main trends.

^[1] Globe Newswire: Global Home Textile Market Report 2023-2028: Increase in Consumer Spending on Home Renovation and Decoration Bodes Well for the Sector. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/03/08/2622718/28124/en/Global-Home-Textile-Market-Report-2023-2028-Increase-in-Consumer-Spending-on-Home-Renovation-and-Decoration-Bodes-Well-for-the-Sector.html

With combined regional, global, and industry specific expertise, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will make its debut from 28 February – 1 March 2024. Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in late March, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) announced the new international fair for the entire textile value chain. The three-day platform will be staged at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.

Commenting on the new event, Ms Wendy Wen, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “With Intertextile Apparel in Shanghai a prime example, our Texpertise Network provides the ideal global framework from which to launch this diverse, comprehensive platform for the integrated textile supply chain. VIATT itself will capture the essence of Texpertise in one platform – a diverse, one-stop sourcing event for buyers across all categories, from garments, fabrics, yarns and fibres, to textile machinery, technical textiles and nonwovens, and everything in between.”

Discussing the event’s potential, Mr Le Hoang Tai, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), said: “Vietnam is one of the world’s leading textile producers and exporters, and going from strength to strength as one of Southeast Asia’s manufacturing hubs. Our establishment has many years of experience organising trade fairs throughout Vietnam, and together with Messe Frankfurt we are excited to help international fairgoers unlock the potential of the country’s fast-growing textile market. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City’s accessibility, and Vietnam’s proximity to other leading textile-producing nations such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China and India, make it the logical venue to host an event of this nature.”

Many international textile manufacturers have been expanding operations into Vietnam, augmenting an already strong domestic industry. According to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), the country’s textile and garment industry achieved staggering annual growth of 20 – 26% from 2018 – 2022. Participation in international trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)[2], bodes well for future growth.

As one of the world’s biggest importers of textile machinery, and a consistent importer of fabrics, yarns and fibres, garment production is the cornerstone of Vietnam’s industry. The country utilises cotton and functional materials to produce casualwear, childrenswear, swimwear, workwear, and much more, with sportswear an especially fast-growing category, and high-utility garments expected to achieve high exports.

By linking textile players from across Asia, Europe and beyond with this market, VIATT 2024 is willing to play an important part in shaping the future of Vietnam’s industry. Next year’s fair will host an extensive mix of international and domestic exhibitors covering multiple textile sub-sectors, including garments, apparel fabrics and accessories, yarns and fibres, digital printing, home textiles, technical textiles and nonwovens, textile processing, textile machinery, and more.

Exhibitors and buyers can utilise the fair’s global business matchmaking service, where connections are made based on the specific needs of each party. In addition to the fair’s main function as an international trading platform, its fringe programme will facilitate participants’ networking with industry leaders and offer diverse market insights via various seminars, forums, and panel discussions.

The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE). Covering the entire textile industry value chain, the inaugural edition will be held from 28 February – 1 March 2024 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.

To ensure that our four-legged pets are looked after in terms of product safety, quality and durability of their cuddly blankets, cushions or favorite toys, the testing service provider Hohenstein has established its quality label Tested Pet Supplies. In May 2023, Markus Tiemann, Hohenstein Global Head of Retail, had the pleasure of handing over the first quality certificate of its kind to Bernd Brunssen, Head of Quality Assurance at Carstensen Import Export Handelsgesellschaft mbH, located near Hamburg.

The bar for quality products is set high at the globally networked importer and distributor, and the company accordingly commissioned product-testing with Hohenstein testing laboratory from its existing range of dog cushions, toys for dogs and cats, pet transport boxes and food balls for dogs and cats.

The label is designed for the entire range in pet supplies, from chew toys to pet beds, with special attention to the high requirements for textiles. It provides consumers with clear product information on product safety, quality and durability, and also offers pets and their owners security against unwanted residues of chemical substances. Markus Tiemann adds, "To ensure that our four-legged darlings feel completely at ease, we can, depending on the intended use also include additional tests for example chew resistance, scratch resistance, outdoor suitability, water repellency, waterproofness or air permeability and include these in the claim, alongside standard tests."

B.I.G. Yarns unveils its new “SustainableYarns” platform, with Clerkenwell Design Week visitors the first to be invited to get on board and focus on what matters most for the design and manufacture of sustainable soft floorings.

The expert in polyamide (PA) 1 step 3 ply yarns offers a range of options for manufacturers to introduce sustainable yarns into carpet solutions and reach sustainability targets faster and more efficiently.

The Sustainable Yarns range creates opportunities to design with recycled content yarn (EqoCycle), to work with renewable resources (EqoBalance), and, following the launch of new polyamide 6 (PA6) EqoYarn at Clerkenwell Design Week, to also leverage the low-impact value chain.

New addition EqoYarn is a new low-impact PA6 carpet yarn based on the most recent innovations in polymer production, which enable yarn manufacturers to lower their carbon footprint by nearly 50% and give carpet manufacturers more options to reduce their impact.

For its EqoYarn Bulk Continuous Filament (BCF) production process, B.I.G. Yarns has selected the few best-in-class partners that have made major steps forward in terms of sustainability, and reduced their greenhouse gas emissions thanks to continuous investments in process efficiency, green energy, heat optimization and waste reduction. The result is EqoYarn with a carbon footprint of 4 kg CO2 eq/kg yarns, which is a CO2 reduction of up to 50% compared to conventional PA yarns.

EqoBalance PA6 yarns enable customers to reach an even higher CO2 reduction of up to 75%. Manufactured with polymers made from renewable resources such as organic waste from cooking oil instead of virgin or fossil feedstock, these yarns have a carbon footprint of 1.98 kg CO2 eq./ kg yarns. They help carpet manufacturers to create products with an extremely low carbon footprint.

EqoCycle PA6 yarns are fully recyclable and incorporate 75% recycled content originating from recycled and regenerated PA6 granules. With a carbon footprint of 4.64 kg CO2 eq./ kg yarns, they deliver the same high-quality performance of virgin PA6 yarn with the benefit of 37% CO2 reduction. EqoCycle yarns offer carpet manufacturers a sustainable alternative to help reduce the ecological footprint of their products and move towards a circular economy without jeopardizing the end-product quality.

In addition to the different CO2-reducing options, B.I.G. Yarns’ customers can access an unlimited colour range to elevate their designs. Its BCF technology for polyamide yarns, twisted and heat-set yarns, one-colour to multi-colour, between 650 and 15000 dTex, along with its colour studio, are available to support their creation of customised collections.

• Umsatzplus von 27 Prozent bis zum Jahr 2030 möglich

Gardinen, innenliegender Sicht- und Sonnenschutz bilden einen Markt, der in Deutschland jährlich um rund 2 Prozent zulegt. Diese seit mehr als 15 Jahren geltende „Regel“ wurde 2020 mit einem Umsatzplus in Höhe von 5,3 Prozent durchbrochen. Der Corona-Schub fürs Zuhause hat auch die Nachfrage nach Verschönerungen und/oder Verhüllungen der Fenster beflügelt. Und wie in den meisten Living-Branchen flachte die Kauflust mit dem Rückgang der Pandemie ab. Zwar deutet der leichte Umsatzanstieg in 2022 die Normalisierung des Konsums an, doch das Mengenwachstum zog nicht im gleichen Maße an, so die Marktforscher von Marketmedia24, Köln, im aktuellen „Branchen-REPORT Gardinen, innenliegender Sicht- und Sonnenschutz 2023“. Gleichwohl gibt es positive Signale. So planen 41,9 Prozent der Konsument*innen in der DACH-Region noch in diesem Jahr neue Anschaffungen für ihre Fenster – und knapp 20 Prozent in 2024. Dies weisen die repräsentativen und zielgruppengenauen Forschungsergebnisse von 1.000 Personen aus, die Marketmedia24 exklusiv für die neue Studie befragt hat. Parallel geht das Best-Case-Szenario der Kölner Marktforscher davon aus, dass die Handelsumsätze mit Gardinen bzw. innenliegendem Sicht- und Sonnenschutz bis zum Jahr 2030 um 27 Prozent steigen werden.

Obwohl viele Deutsche auf ihr Budget achten müssen, bleiben die Produkte der Branche im Fokus der Menschen. So stellen Anbieter fest, dass aufgrund der gestiegenen Energiekosten gezielt nach Produktlösungen gesucht wird, die mit ihren isolierenden Eigenschaften beim Energiesparen helfen. Richtig eingesetzt können Hausbewohner auf lange Sicht bares Geld sparen und gleichzeitig zum Klimaschutz beitragen, unterstreicht der Verband innenliegender Sicht- und Sonnenschutz (ViS), Wuppertal, und verweist gleichzeitig auf das Zukunftspotenzial von „smarten Lösungen“. Diese tragen zur Verringerung des Energieverbrauchs im Sinne von Nachhaltigkeit und zur Gebäudesicherheit bei, gleichzeitig liegen in der Digitalisierung echte Wettbewerbschancen für die Fachbetriebe der Branche. Insgesamt gibt das Thema Nachhaltigkeit den Takt für die Zukunft von Gardinen, innenliegendem Sicht- und Sonnenschutz vor.

Dass das Thema in Teilen der Bevölkerung bereits ankommt, unterstreichen die aktuellen Primärforschungen von Marketmedia24. Danach ist es für 22,4 Prozent der Deutschen wichtig, dass Gardinen, Rollos, Jalousien & Co. nachhaltig produziert werden oder zertifizierte Umweltsiegel tragen. Für die überwiegende Mehrheit aller Befragungsteilnehmer*innen in der DACH-Region zählen jedoch Qualität, leichte Anbringungsmöglichkeit sowie das Produktdesign zu den wichtigsten Kaufkriterien.

Unter den Vertriebswegen sind aus Sicht der Gardinen-, Sicht- und Sonnenschutz-Hersteller der stationäre Fachhandel und Fachmärkte unverzichtbar. Zwar hat dieses Handelsformat als langjähriger Marktführer seinen Spitzenplatz an den Wettbewerb im Möbelhandel abgeben müssen. Aber mit dem Jahr 2022 wächst der Marktanteil der Spezialisten wieder leicht (plus 0,4 Prozentpunkte). Und gemeinsam mit dem Online-Handel sowie den Bau- und Heimwerkermärkten werden hier aktuell rund Dreiviertel der Marktumsätze repräsentiert.

Für die längerfristige Zukunft (bis 2030) bewertet Marketmedia24 die Entwicklung der Fachhandelsstufe tendenziell zurückhaltend. Dennoch weist das Best-Case-Szenario in der Studie aus, dass dieser Vertriebsweg innerhalb der nächsten sieben Jahre zulegen wird. Das Wachstum der Onliner und Versender wird mit plus 50 Prozent am stärksten ausfallen. Nicht ganz so rosig, aber auf jeden Fall positiv, können unter den gleichen Rahmenbedingungen auch Discounter, Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte und mit vergleichsweise leichterem Umsatzplus der Möbelhandel in die Zukunft schauen.

Wer aktuell und in Zukunft den Verbraucher*innen auf der Spur bleiben will, dem empfiehlt Marketmedia24 die beliebtesten Kommunikations- bzw. Informationsquellen zu studieren. So halten fast 70 Prozent der DACH-Bewohner*innen Suchmaschinen wie Google und Bing für „sehr wichtig“ bzw. „wichtig“, während Social-Media-Kanäle aktuell von 40,8 Prozent Zustimmung erfahren. Überraschenderweise sind für 56,5 Prozent der Youngster (bis 24 Jahre) Werbeprospekte wichtige Info-Tools, und noch einmal fast 50 Prozent dieser Zielgruppe sind an interaktivem Live Shopping zum Beispiel bei TikTok oder Instagram interessiert. Als noch wichtiger werden jedoch die Erfahrungen bzw. Empfehlungen von Freunden, Familie, Kolleg*innen und Kommiliton*innen bewertet.

International technology group ANDRITZ has successfully started up the new velour loom it delivered to Foss Floors, Rome, United States (GA). The loom produces flooring from recycled plastic for a wide range of applications. Start-up took place in early 2023.

ANDRITZ is one of the global market leaders for supply of nonwoven production technologies, with a full range of needling technologies, including velour equipment, which allows customers to address a variety of applications such as automotive, household, flooring, acoustics, geotextiles, filtration, and synthetic leather.

Foss Floors is a leader in needlepunched felt products in North America. Its facilities are located in Rome and Chatsworth, Georgia, and it distributes a vast array of flooring products worldwide. One of the company’s key strengths is its agility for product diversification to satisfy customer needs. Foss Floors also strongly expresses its unwavering commitment to environmentally sustainable manufacturing.´

B.I.G. has signed an agreement with Australian B2B flooring wholesaler to acquire its complete range of activities. Through this acquisition, both companies will strengthen their growth opportunities in both soft, resilient and hard flooring in Australia and New Zealand.

CEO Pol Deturck comments: “This acquisition will provide great opportunities for all our stakeholders, especially our customers, suppliers and employees. Both B.I.G. and Signature have solid positions as leaders in the flooring industry and a shared commitment to sustainability, product innovation, design and customer service.”

Signature Floors is an Australian B2B flooring wholesaler serving retailers, commercial contractors, architect-designers and end-users in Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1989, the company has 120 employees and is owned by 2 family shareholders which are both active in the company. Signature has offices, warehouses and showrooms in Melbourne and Auckland spread over 3 locations.

Together, B.I.G. and Signature will integrate their sales and business activities over the coming months, ensuring business continuity for customers, partners, suppliers and employees.

Both companies expect to close the transaction at the end of April 2023.