Held from 9 to 12 January in Frankfurt, the 2024 edition of Heimtextil gathered stakeholders of the home and textile industry across the globe to share their top-tier products and facilitate professional exchanges. Together with international brands and manufacturers, Lenzing participated in the trade fair, showcasing a wide span of products, from their classic fiber applications to new launches.

Heimtextil 2024 marked a significant rise in exhibitors and visitors, reflecting the growing demand for responsible and innovative textile products. Lenzing, as a leading global producer of specialty wood-based fibers, seized this great opportunity to bring public attention to their latest developments and product portfolio offerings in various home textile sub-segments, including bedding essentials, bed linens, upholstery, curtains and towels.

For this year’s Heimtextil, Lenzing pivoted on home textile applications in the kids’ sector. A broad array of products was displayed, from evergreen baby towels, bath robes and sleeping bags, to the crib corner – the highlight item.

“Heimtextil serves as a major platform for us to engage with customers and brands globally; it is a trade show that must not be missed,” said Ebru Bayramoglu, Head of Global Business Development at Lenzing. “Throughout the event week, we were able to present collections of products that integrate our fibers and highlight our latest breakthroughs. In occasions like this, we can provide detailed insights into our company and products, a cornerstone for establishing connections.”

The direct interactions with visitors also allowed Lenzing to understand precisely the expectations and demands of the market. For the home interior sector, they observed an inclining preference for fabrics made with mono materials and TENCEL™ branded fibers. There was also a strong demand for products to be made of TENCEL™ branded fibers, for example TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers, which are certified with the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence [1].

Lenzing’s decades-long work on TENCEL™ branded fibers resonated with the theme of Heimtextil this year – “New Sensitivity”. It raised the idea that every decision people make does not only impact themselves, but also nature and technology as they are interlocked, and people should be sensitive to every decision-making. One of the approaches to achieving a sensitive world of textiles suggested by the fair was to support textile circularity through technology. Lenzing has been spearheading textile circularity by producing TENCEL™ branded fibers which are biodegradable and compostable [2].

“One of the highlights of TENCEL™ branded fibers is that they are made of wood, a natural and renewable raw material carefully sourced from responsibly managed forests,” added Bayramoglu. “It enables recirculation back into the existing ecosystems and contributes to our goal to minimize the industry’s impact on the environment. Product development will be the key direction for us this year, as we believe that true innovation can create tangible change in reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.”

In addition to material preference, Lenzing also recognized an elevating customer interest in a list of spinners who are available for yarn sampling. Amongst multiple focuses, the center of the trade show lay within the topic of healthy and regenerative sleep. Trailblazing in various segments with fiber innovations and applications, Lenzing has stepped up in sleepwear and co-created a cozy, luxury collection with TENCEL™ Modal fibers. The collection will be the means for the transformative power of sleep to perform at its finest, providing the most revitalizing sleep to the wearers.

“Circularity, recycling, and traceability will continue to be under the spotlight in the home and textiles industry this year,” noted Bayramoglu. “In 2024 and beyond, Lenzing will continue to invest in eco-friendly textile products and manufacturing practices.”

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[1] EU Ecolabel for textile products (license no. AT/016/001).

[2] TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers are certified for biodegradability and compostability in various environments. In combination with compatible blending partners, dyes and finishes, TENCEL™ fibers contribute to the biodegradability of textile products. LENZING™ Lyocell and Modal standard fibers are certified by TÜV Austria as biodegradable in soil, freshwater and marine environments, and compostable under home and industrial conditions.