Heimtextil 2025: The Future Is Now

Over 3,000 exhibitors from the fields of decorative and functional home textiles, carpets, wallpapers, bedding, and yarns showcased their innovative material and decoration solutions at Heimtextil. More than 50,000 visitors from 142 countries left highly satisfied. Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, summarized: “With participants from 142 nations, growth in the number of exhibitors, and a 10% increase in visitors, it’s clear: trade fairs are more in demand than ever. In times of persistent inflation and low purchasing power, resilience and market presence are key. Heimtextil enables industry and retail to access new markets and actively shape global competition.”

One of the declared highlights of the event was the opening press conference: under the title “among-us”, designer and architect Patricia Urquiola presented a multifaceted installation that promised a holistic experience through the fusion of digital possibilities and textile excellence. “The spatial installation ‘among-us’ is a convivial and intuitive setup that showcases the evolving potential of textiles, exploring their hybrid potential across various scales—from product design to unique pieces. The title refers to the concept of togetherness and reflects the intention to celebrate new hybrid relationships,” Urquiola explained. Her work combined wall and ceiling décors of remarkable craftsmanship with a traditional aesthetic, soft, deep-pile carpets that guests could experience shoeless, and futuristic sofa and upholstery sculptures, complemented by virtual elements on screens. The aim was to connect tactile, physical, and digital impressions—a bold mix of materials, tradition, contrasts, and futuristic visions that expressed a complex world where genuine connections and shared experiences matter more than ever. 

In contrast, the Trend Space, another centerpiece of the trade fair curated by Milan’s Studio Alcova, offered a concentrated and minimalist experience. Titled “Future Continuous”, the installation showcased solutions for the industry through current colors, material qualities, techniques, and processes. A diverse array of fabric samples circulated on some kind of conveyor belt above an oval arrangement of tables, where additional textile innovations were displayed. The minimalism of this presentation facilitated engagement with the content—without distracting entertainment. Complementary technical solutions for processing and finishing were also featured. This year’s trend themes—“Naturally Uneven,” “Radically Restructured,” and “Regenerative”—reflected the fact that ecology, ethics, appreciation, quality, and durability have become guiding stars for many textile companies too.

In terms of content, a notable shift in focus was evident at Heimtextil: with the discontinuation of Domotex and IMM, the newly established “Carpets & Rugs” segment, launched in 2024, experienced significant growth, with three times as many exhibitors as in the previous year. Yentl van der Plas, Marketing Manager of Belgian manufacturer Ragolle Rugs, expressed her satisfaction with a full stand on the opening day: “The fair is truly international, and the absence of Domotex has, of course, boosted its profile. There’s a lot happening, we can present our complete product range, and we’re thrilled that carpets are gaining such momentum here.” Ragolle’s collection featured designs with a basic theme in off-white, beige, and brown shades, complemented and accentuated by subtly used desaturated trend colors like teal, taupe, grey, and terracotta. The patterns imitate every conceivable natural motif—inspired by blossoms, stone formations, leaf veins, and the texture of tree bark—a tribute to Mother Earth as a constant source of inspiration that must be valued and preserved.

Bedding was also more strongly represented at Heimtextil than last year, reflecting an ongoing yearning for regular retreat into the private sphere and sufficient “me-time.” Beddinghouse from the Netherlands, for example, presented nature-inspired bedroom ideas and lovingly crafted islands of well-being: bed linens and bedspreads with delicate, washed-out watercolor designs or romantic floral patterns made from sustainable materials illustrated the aesthetic of the times—distinctive but understated, innovative yet familiar. 

Felix Diener, Creative Director at Marburg Tapeten, confirms this trend: “My ambition for Marburg is to be as uncommercially commercial as possible. The collection must work and sell, but of course, it also needs to offer visual appeal. One of my principles is: the wilder the texture, the more subtle the use of color. This is the balancing act I navigate as a designer. Besides the aesthetics, I’m also drawn to haptics. That’s why I enjoy working with three-dimensional textures.” The creative challenge is his driving force, and the current collection, “Fashion Icon,” created in collaboration with Senegalese supermodel Papis Loveday, furnished a fit occasion. Another question was: how can haute couture be translated onto walls and into spaces? Diener addressed this by emulating the extravagant style of designer Paco Rabanne through graphic arrangements of raised hexagons in shades of gold reminiscent of sequins. He also reimagined the high-fashion classic of pleats as a collage of organically shaped, shimmering silver fragments, evoking the flowing forms of couture gowns.

However, it is not only popular collaborations, which have repeatedly appeared in the past, that underscore Marburg Tapeten’s exceptional position in the market. Its classic collections also showcase the courage and innovative spirit of this tradition-rich company. A prime example is “Terra,” the first clay-based wallpaper. This collection combines sustainability and ecology with the health benefits of a natural material that helps regulate humidity, contributing to a healthy indoor climate. Moreover, the raw material is locally sourced, avoiding long transport routes, and only the amount of clay needed for wallpaper production is extracted.

Functional contract textiles for gastronomy, hospitality, and public spaces remain a cornerstone of Heimtextil. Indorama Ventures, for example, presented the innovative BREATHAIR® 3D material, a continuous filament loop structure with rubber-like elasticity. This material is highly water-repellent, extremely air-permeable, and offers additional elasticity and durability. Its exceptional antimicrobial and deodorizing hygiene properties, along with its lighter weight compared to polyurethane of the same hardness, open up a wide range of applications for this filler material in the hospitality sector.

Heimtextil 2025 was once again complemented by a high-caliber program of talks and guided tours, hosted by World-Architects and renowned designers. Veronika Aumann took the participants on a tour focusing on materials, stopping at exhibitors such as Ashley Wilde, Hohenberger Manufaktur, and carpet manufacturer Teppichweberei Paulig. Sophie Green as well as Marina Cella and Miriam Giordano tailored their tours around the principle that sustainability and circularity should not be seen as limitations but rather as positive challenges, fostering greater beauty and, most importantly, essence. Their tours included visits to manufacturers like Lanerossi, Edmund Bell, Lenzing, and Masureel.

It’s clear that sustainability, high-tech innovation, hybrid solutions, and a commercially viable aesthetic balance are key parameters for today and tomorrow. However, values such as reliability and continuity are equally important. That is why Heimtextil has already announced the continuation of its creative collaborations with Patricia Urquiola and Studio Alcova for the next edition. Urquiola will further develop her design concepts for Messe Frankfurt, while Alcova has committed to delivering the results of a study in 2026 on the societal impact of textiles and an analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing the textile industry.