As Messe Frankfurt's Heimtextil trade fair approaches, the home textile industry prepares to unveil the newest trends and collections.

Taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from Jan. 9 – 12, Heimtextil is the first trade show of the year and is a kick-starter platform for many manufacturers, retailers and designers. The Show will unveil spectacular showcases in textiles and its applications in fashion, art, technology and performance. Here are some highlights:

Design Live

Organizers have increased the focus on textile design at this year’s fair. The design area in hall 4.2 will be called Design live and will be sporting a fresh look.

"By giving our design area a makeover, we are looking to highlight Heimtextil's position as the world's largest platform for textile design. Our visitors will be offered a new contemporary showcase for first- class design work," said Ulrike Wechsung, Heimtextil Director.

Roughly 150 international exhibitors will be presenting creative designs for home and household textiles in hall 4.2, amongst them some new studios being represented at Heimtextil for the first time. They will be showcasing their work in a newcomer area created especially for them. In addition to the studios' work, the product portfolio of Design live encompasses applications for CAD/CAM and ink jet.

Young Creations Award: Upcycling

Heimtextil is providing a stage for the next generation of designers to showcase its creative textile projects. The event organizers will be looking at the work of students of Aachen University of Applied Sciences and Coburg University, whose task is to create pieces for interiors out of recycled materials and so promote the principle of sustainability. Visitors to hall 4.2 will judge the projects on display on site. The special campus area will offer industry, interior design, architecture and textile design visitors another source of inspiration.

The Trend Show

The Trend Show in Forum 0 will illustrate the new Heimtextil trends straight out of the new Trend Book for the 2013/2014 season accompanied with interactive, artistic performances, and high-caliber speakers.

“Stijlinstituut Amsterdam and the Trendtable designers have created an impressive work of reference that will be a first-class source of inspiration and guideline for the international sector. We can look forward to a fantastic Trend Show with lots of surprising elements at Heimtextil 2013”, said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt.

The Trend Book comprises four themes, each illustrated by a striking character. Under the motto, ‘You are how you live’, the trend experts have created four personalities, all of whom have their own unequivocal concept of life and being. The result is four completely different characters—the historian, the eccentric, the inventor and the geologist—whereby the home is seen as an important aspect of their individual makeup. At the same time, attention is paid to the emotional impact of interior-design changes. The challenge is to find solutions that improve the home and our way of life.

Be Inspired

Be inspired is new to Heimtextil in Hall 11.1, enhanced with the partnership of exquisite crystal elements by Swarovski.

Wall Gallery

This special show in Hall 3.1 will spotlight cutting-edge designs in the wallpaper segment.

Galleria 1

Will feature a new forum called “Let’s talk about…” with renowned speakers discussing the latest developments in industry-related sectors.

“Web-Chance”

E-commerce and online marketing forum “WebChance” will offer expert advice in new media on the first day of the trade fair.

Heimtextil is offering exhibiting companies the opportunity to get information about the products featured in Design Live and make contact with the design studios the day before the trade fair officially opens its doors. On Jan. 8 hall 4.2 will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. exclusively for exhibitors and press representatives. The fair opens to the public on Jan 9. For more details on any of the exhibits, click here.