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International textile fair Heimtextil 2023 gave us an exciting insight into the future of the textile industry, and how it will supply textiles that will fit better into your home and the environment

Ever wonder why your bed is so irresistible, even when you are not that tired? There is the plushness and size that make it look so comfy, but the attraction also has a lot to do with the textiles that furnish it.

Textiles and fabrics play a pivotal role in building a comfortable home. While patterns, colours, textures, and durability, are key measures for quality textiles, what is equally important is the environmental impact that comes with it.

To mitigate its ecological footprint, the industry is looking into ways to provide textiles, fabrics and surface materials that fit better not only into your home, but also into the environment, as shown at the international trade fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil 2023.

Taking place in Frankfurt in January, this year’s Heimtextil fair received some 44,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from more than 120 countries. Under the motto of “Textiles Matter”, the four-day trade show shed light on how designers and manufacturers are working together towards a circular textile supply chain that aims to foster a more sustainable future.

A circular supply chain, to put it simply, is a close-loop system where materials are reused time and again to minimise the use of the Earth’s resources. In the technical cycle, inorganic materials such as nylon, polyester, plastic and metal can be recycled with no loss of quality. In the biological cycle, organic materials such as linen and bast fibres are returned to nature at the end of their useful life.

“Understanding where materials come from, how they are processed, and where they end up has a huge impact on the environment,” said Caroline Till, a member of the Heimtextil Trend Council. “Through Textiles Matter, buyers and manufacturers understand circular economy and find their own way to circularity.”

At the centre of the event was the Trend Space, which offered the latest textile and material trends under four themes – “make and remake”, “continuous”, “from earth”, and “nature engineered” – with circularity being the common thread. Governed by saturated hues of jester red, russet orange, lemon curry, Florida keys and purple heather, the “make and remake” area presented a line-up of delightful home products that had been repurposed from pre-used, deadstock and remnant textiles through innovative techniques of overprinting, overdyeing bricolage, collage and patchwork.

Among them, a vibrant lounge chair by Darren Romanelli and French Studio Mermaid stole the limelight as a brilliant demonstration of how to repurpose old clothing, zips and buttons into a functional setting solution that is equal parts ergonomic and aesthetically appealing.

In a calmer palette, the “continuous” corner, led by soothing shades of blue wing teal, silver birch, desert sage and porpoise, showcased circular zero-waste, closed-loop productions, that saw materials recycled into new products while retaining their original qualities.

One case in point was the Circulose fabric, a biodegradable material by recycling company Renewcell, crafted from discarded textiles with high cellulose content such as cotton jeans or scraps. Textile wastes as such are dissolved into regenerated fibres and then spun into yarns, woven or knitted into fabrics to be sewn into quality recycled textile products that look brand new.

With a notion to reconnect with the planet, the “from earth” corner championed everything natural. Raw, organic materials were artfully reconfigured into furniture and home accessories that paid homage to the beauty of imperfection. Through traditional making techniques such as natural dyeing and weaving, home pieces presented in this booth flaunted earthy palettes of cornstalk, capulet olive, muted lime and sunburst that channeled warmth and softness with a modern appeal.

The Clareira rug by Emma Cogné, for instance, saw natural reeds woven into an organic silhouette with their fringes left free-flowing, making for an additional adornment in the living room that was effortlessly compelling.

In a similar fashion, the “nature engineered” area sought to elevate the utility, functionality and durability of natural materials through cutting-edge techniques. Despite being engineered, surface materials shown in this area were absent of chemicals and synthetics, making for smarter and more sustainable alternatives to traditional architectural and industrial materials.

An exemplar was a pair of organic pendants by UK biomanufacturing company Biohm, made of food production and agricultural by-products, including orange peels and coffee beans.

“Considering the state of environmental emergency we are currently living through, the textile industry has a responsibility to examine its processes, and change for the better,” said Marta Giralt Dunjó, of FranklinTill, the British agency behind the Trend Space.

“Textiles Matter showcases the potential of circularity and celebrates design initiatives that are beautiful, relevant, and importantly, sustainable.”