‘Heimtextil 2021 will be different – more concentrated and focused on actual business. And the necessary hygiene precautions will also of course change the look of our trade fair’, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. ‘We consider ourselves all the more lucky that numerous exhibitors and visitors, both national and international, are placing their trust in us by announcing their participation and are counting on Heimtextil to be the first industry highlight after the restart’.

In Germany, bdia (Association of German Interior Architects), the BTE (Association of German Textile and Bedding Retailers), the DecoTeam, Heimtex (Association of the Home Textiles Industry), the MZE (the furniture association for leading, medium-sized specialist stores), the VDB (Association of Bed Dealers) and World-Architects have all stated how incredibly important Heimtextil is. On the international side, the following major industry players have shared their thoughts about Heimtextil: CIE (Consejo Intertextil Español), El Corte Inglès, Home Textiles from Spain, IGI (The Global Wallcoverings Association), Taiwan Textile Federation, Tetsiad (Turkish Home Textile Industrialists' and Businessmen’s Association) and UKFT (UK Fashion and Textile Association) – see below for detailed statements by the industry representatives.

Online now: overview of all participating exhibitors

Hall occupancy by exhibitors is now taking concrete shape: by mid-July, 947 exhibitors from 49 countries had made a firm booking for a stand at Heimtextil. They therefore currently occupy a surface area of nine football fields. More stand bookings will follow over the next few weeks and months. Heimtextil has now published an overview of all participating companies on its website: www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com/aussteller

Positive signals from the world of politics

Heimtextil is also receiving positive signals from the world of politics, which give rise to hopes for a relaxation and speedy return to successful trade fair operations: at trade fairs, it is now important to ensure that the minimum social distance of 1.5 metres is observed. As a guideline, three square metres of space should be available for each person. This will ensure that Heimtextil can permit all visitors entry to the halls at all times.

Since the start of July, travel to the EU from selected third countries has been possible again. ‘This is an important signal for international exhibitors and trade visitors who come to Germany for our trade fairs and another important building block in the successful restart of the trade fair’, emphasises Jörn Holtmeier, CEO of AUMA (Association of the German Trade Fair Industry). The German government has so far permitted unrestricted travel to Germany for visitors from eleven countries, in addition to the 26 EU member states.

Free tickets: Heimtextil supports exhibitors and visitors

Given the challenging situation facing many companies, Heimtextil is supporting its exhibitors and visitors with a new measure: exhibitors will be given free ticket codes to pass on to their customers. With this gesture, Heimtextil expresses its solidarity with its exhibitors and will allow numerous dealers and furnishing experts to gain free entry to the trade fair. ‘We want to create additional incentives for national and international buyers to visit the trade fair in Frankfurt at the start of the year so that they can meet old and new business partners alike’, says Schmidt.

And this is what national and international industry representatives think about Heimtextil and Messe Frankfurt’s protection and hygiene concept:

Bdia, Association of German Interior Architects, Germany – Monika Slomski, Chair, Hesse regional association:

‘Even though we discovered the potential of digital meetings during lockdown, nothing beats visiting a trade fair. In order to lend our projects the personal touch and for us to create innovative and original details, the inspiration we get from trade fairs is indispensable. Where else can you inform yourself so quickly and comprehensively about products and innovations, view colours and a design in person, touch materials and fabrics or feel and experience the effect of a particular texture on a surface? We at bdia Hesse want to reinvigorate direct dialogue and are already looking forward to taking our interior architecture colleagues on guided tours of Messe Frankfurt's Heimtextil again’.

BTE, Association of German Textile and Bedding Retailers/VDB, Association of Bed Retailers, Germany – Axel Augustin, BTE spokesperson and VDB CEO:

‘After months of limited contact, many home and household textile dealers are once again looking forward to personal meetings with their suppliers. BTE is sure that Heimtextil will develop a convincing social distancing and hygiene concept that will enable a low-risk visit to the trade fair. Since the trade in home and household textiles had to cope with comparatively small losses due to corona, many business owners are hopeful for 2021 and eagerly looking forward to seeing new products at the trade fair’.

CIE, Consejo Intertextil Español, Spain – Càndid Penalba Peiró, President:

‘Against a background of rapidly growing global demand for home and household textiles, which is down to the desire for renewal and improved hygiene post Covid-19, Heimtextil 2021 offers us a great opportunity to meet our customers again in a safe and secure environment’.

DecoTeam, Germany – Ottmar Ihling, DecoTeam spokesperson:

‘As the biggest and most important leading trade fair for home and household textiles, Heimtextil is a fixed and important component in the textile calendar for all members of the industry. For us members of the DecoTeam group, this trade fair is the meeting place for the industry. Business deals and personal meetings with our customers, communication on all levels, the presentation of new products, creative input – all this now has increased relevance and is of greater importance, especially in these unusual times. We are therefore particularly looking forward to this Heimtextil and are positive that everyone else feels the same’.

Dina Vanelli, Turkey – Erol Turkun, Founder:

’Heimtextil is the most important trade fair worldwide in our industry. We hope that everything will return to normal as far as January. It would be the perfect time to restart. We believe that Messe Frankfurt will take all necessary health measures and that exhibitors and visitors can enter without any problems. As far as I am informed, all major Turkish companies will participate.’

El Corte Inglés, Spain – Cristóbal Montero Álvarez, Head of purchasing department for home and household textiles

‘For us, Heimtextil is the most important international meeting place for ordering home and household textiles. Given the increasing demand for furnishing and decoration, we're looking forward to meeting our suppliers again in 2021 and eagerly await the new developments, innovations and trends that the textile industry will come up with’.

Heimtex, Association of Home Textiles Manufacturers, Germany – Martin Auerbach, CEO:

‘The German home textiles industry – as is the case in many other sectors too – is going through a very challenging and stressful time. Not all our members were able to benefit from the catch-up effects in May, which makes it all the more important that the industry has a strong presence at Heimtextil at the start of the year in order to kick-start a strong new year with the international community. We therefore strongly recommend that our association members take part in the international industry meeting. Even though we will be experiencing a leading trade fair in a different way, in Frankfurt, important national and international buyers come together, and they also want to make contacts in person and experience new products. In spite of all the challenges, we see the trade fair as a decisive, indispensable support tool for restarting the industry that will also provide orientation’.