Munich am Main, September 12, 2024. Stories are told via textiles. They record social changes, hold memories, and serve as a reflection of identities. Examining their background helps them to comprehend the current situation better and brings back long-forgotten customs. However, how can we draw lessons from the past to create a future that is more conscientious and sustainable? Alcova’s Heimtextil Trends 25/26 offers the solution. Textile branches are given a voice and their experiences are brought to life through six uplifting interviews.
Under the theme “Future Continuous,” Heimtextil is presenting Heimtextil Trends 25/26 in association with the founders of Alcova, providing a forward-thinking viewpoint on the profound importance of textiles. They demonstrate their pivotal significance in the advancement of technology, culture, and ecology. “Future Continuous” offers fascinating new insights into the direction that the textile industry is taking. In order to shed light on diverse facets of the textile business, Alcova has conducted six ground-breaking interviews with worldwide designers, textile researchers, and representatives of associations and institutions from their network. These tales weave together creativity and tradition, skill and contemporary technology, and they inspire us to consider fresh approaches for the future of textiles.
The use of textiles to bridge the gap between the past and the future
Textiles are much more than just materials; they have a rich cultural and historical background. Even the term “text” itself derives from the Latin verb “texere,” which means “to weave,” demonstrating how textiles were used for communication and expression long before writing. For thousands of years, they have been an essential part of our technology, connecting stories and weaving them together. In the interview, textile researcher Janis Jefferies makes it very evident that spinning and weaving fibers was the first human technology and served as the foundation for both mathematics and architecture. These days, regenerative agriculture and a vocabulary that emphasizes “restoring, reducing, and reusing” have replaced the traditional “recycling, reducing, and reusing” approach to thinking about textiles, revitalizing and restocking. With a holistic perspective that views textiles as the key to a sustainable future, this breakthrough represents a significant shift in the sustainability discourse.
Rebirth of traditional workmanship and natural fibers
A movement returning to the concrete, physical components of life is gaining traction in the midst of the fast-paced, digital world. The tactile aspect of textiles creates a contrast to virtual existence and helps people feel connected to their cultural history. In the contemporary throwaway culture that prioritizes quickly worn, frequently damaged items, textiles and handiwork are symbols of sincerity, sustainability, and authenticity. In a world when screens are everywhere, they foster a moment of mindfulness and restore the sense of actually being able to touch something. Renowned interior designer Ilse Crawford, who founded StudioIlse, further highlights: There is a strong demand for physical connection in a society that is becoming more and more digital and disembodied. Remarkably, natural fibers like flax, jute, hemp, and nettle are becoming more and more popular. Their comfort and longevity have made them valuable for ages. Another crucial point made by Salewa’s Innovation Manager, Christine Ladstätter: There has been a shift in recent decades toward a heightened awareness of regional materials and methods. Her work highlight how craftsmanship is becoming increasingly important. Promoting regional agriculture and maintaining customary pastoral settings are the main goals.
Transparency and circularity as the cornerstones of the future
In today’s world, trash culture and rapid consumerism rule. But even in the textile sector, the value of caution and forethought is growing more and more clear. The industry is about to shift in the direction of a transparent, linked, and sustainable future. Director General of Euratex Dirk Vantyghem emphasizes that the European textile industry is receiving more attention than it has in the past, in part because of the European Green Deal. There is an increasing demand for long-lasting, useful, and sustainable products in this uncertain global environment. Many firms frequently employ adjectives like “sustainable” or “circular” indiscriminately. For this reason, the European Parliament is pushing for increased supply chain traceability hence preventing the practice of “greenwashing” and empowering customers to make better informed purchases. Group leaders in the WAAG Future Lab, Simone van der Burg and Lucas Evers, stress the significance of open as well as collaborative manufacturing. Their strategy makes use of regional resources like natural fibers and dyes. This article focuses on the democratization of manufacturing processes by providing open-source tools and resources to designers and other creatives, allowing them to experiment freely and affordably. Eugenia Morpurgo, an Italian designer and professor, advocates for a departure from petroleum-based materials and a comprehensive reconsideration of agricultural methods in the textile industry. She issues a warning against economic theories that prioritize ephemeral goods over durable substitutes. In “Syntropic Materials,” her project, regenerative agriculture is examined as a sustainable food and textile source. Enhancing soil health and biodiversity is the goal. Morpurgo emphasizes that when evaluating sustainability, the full costs—from resource use to long-term soil fertility—must be included.
Hues with narrative potential
Alcova has interpreted the color palette of the Heimtextil Trends 25/26 both visually and verbally, ranging from Naturally Uneven Green to End of Petrol and Imperfect Pink. The colors interweave the thoughts and concepts that came up in the conversations, which were inspired by the six interviews. They create a vivid story in this way. The conflict between tradition and innovation is shown in the combination of lively, brilliant colors and natural, unbleached tones. This contrast stands for an ever-evolving, dynamic equilibrium that is marked by growth, rejuvenation, and an outlook that transcends sustainability. This link will take you to the Trend Booklet: https://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
The Heimtextil Trend Arena will host the presentation of Heimtextil Trends 25/26.
Frankfurt will host Heimtextil from January 14–17, 2025.
