The world’s biggest fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil, is just a month away and more than 380 Indian companies including big giants like Alok industries, Trident Limited, SEL Manufacturing, D Décor Home Fabrics, Golden Group, Dicitex Furnishings and many more have confirmed their participation at the event. The organizers of the fair, Messe Frankfurt, are advocating a very fashion forward event… Apparel Online tried to get a feel of what preparations Indian exporters have done in this regard and what are their expectations from the show.
Almost 50 companies from Panipat are participating at the upcoming Heimtextil, including one of the biggest players with a turnover of almost US $ 120 million, Golden Group. The Group’s Golden Terry Towels will focus on terry towels with special spotlight on organic/fair trade products. Ravindra Gautam, Marketing Manager of the company shared that the PD is still under process and will be completed soon. “We are working on neon and bright colours, since basic towels are more in demand we will have a mix of products with some special or different offerings,” says Gautam. The company has capacity of 16,000 kg towels per day and in next three months it will be increased to almost 23,000 kg per day.
Many other companies of Panipat are focusing on various kinds of printing, like Artex Home Fashions having specialization in bath rugs will display rugs with different printing techniques; the highlight will be digital as the company is expecting demand in digital printing to soar in the near future. “Last year we displayed little of digital printing but this time it is our priority. We have used different base material which will add value to our product,” says Vineet Sharma, Proprietor of the company who is not very enthusiastic about the fair. “We don’t have high hopes from Heimtextil as from last 4-5 years it has not been as good as it was in the past. It will be good if we can connect with some European buyers,” he adds.
Another company of Panipat, Design Collection too has the same experience. Parveen Dhingra, looking after International Marketing, shared that last year the response at the fair was very average, so they don’t expect much from this edition, yet ignoring the fair is not a consideration. “I have attended this fair almost ten times and no doubt footfall is decreasing but still there are plenty of serious buyers, and presence in the show is a must. One can always find new buyers along with old ones under one roof,” says Gautam.
To attract overall attention, Design Collection will be displaying various kinds of rugs with no clear focus on a particular theme or trend. The strategy is to offer a mix variety as it is targeting buyers across the world. “We have used running designs and same cotton fabric in tufted/woven bath mats,” informs Dhingra. Embroidery is not in too much use for players of Panipat.
Ludhiana-based Laveena Hosiery has given digital effects by knitting in its cushions and throws; the company has good infrastructure of advance knitting machines. Gagan, Director of the company shared that it is working on 3-D effects at reasonable cost and will also be focusing on pastel colours and abstract designs. “Colours will change according to different countries but digitize effects by knitting should attract a lot of buyers,” avers Gagan. Many companies will showcase products which are getting good response from the last few years and those are actually their strength too. Noida-based Bharat Exim offering cushions has worked on vintage graphic cushion covers and recycled canvas, as the company has done good business recently in this concept. “100 per cent cotton and priority to the US market are the areas where we are strong and we will be at the fair with the same mindset and product mix,” says Bharat Bhushan, Director of the company.
Trend experts have proposed four design themes: Sensory – The well-being factor; Mixology – Inter- cualtural exchange; Discovery – Predicting the future; and Memory – Reflection and re-evaluation.
In terms of exhibitors, the numbers are even increasing for 5 years now. Out of over 2,700 exhibitors, more than 14 per cent are Indian companies. Where as visitors are concerned, in January 2014 it had more than 66,000 visitors. Organizers claimed that last year it had more visitors than the year before.
To offer newness, many companies are offering different kinds of products, rather than sticking to textile-made products like Abida International, New Delhi which is majorly offering cotton and woollen rugs, has developed plastic rugs with kilim designs which was earlier available only in woollen rugs. Starting from US $ 11 per square metre, the newly developed rug is expected to get special attention from Scandinavian countries as it is almost 40 per cent cheaper than a similar products manufactured in those countries. “There are only a few people in India offering this kind of product at Heimtextil, so we are very hopeful of attracting attention,” says Kafeel Ansari, Director of the company. In the towel segment, a lot of medium-level companies are participating at the fair and they are looking to present products as per their individual strength. Offering jacquard towels for kitchen use Amber International, Mumbai has prepared hand towels in orange, lilac and turquoise colours, based on their research of colour trends for the season.
Apart from these regular products and with some new developments, there are a few Indian companies which are focusing on niche products with technical properties. Surat-based Aalidhra Techtex, which is into variety of products like polyester printed & dyed bed sets & fitted sheets, outdoor/patio, beach collection in various home products would also highlight aprons with technical properties. “We are highlighting technical aprons and having strength to offer it in customized requirements, for which we are expecting good response. Despite slow market in Europe, our expectations are high from European buyers as lean time is perfect to explore newer developments and later they can be converted into volume business also,” says Suresh Gondalia, Director of the company.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
