Even though it is still ten months before the next Heimtextil, International Trade Fair for Home and Contract Textiles (10-13 January 2017), the Heimtextil Trends team 2017/2018 has already met.

French designers in the vanguard
During the meeting in France, all the design studios represented at the meeting presented their own trend predictions; these were then discussed and developed further. The designers present incorporated a variety of materials and textures, colours and patterns from all over the world into the mix. At the end of the process, a mutual, globally applicable trend prognosis for the coming 18 months was established and will be realised in the form of the Heimtextil Trendbook and "Theme Park". The preparation of the book and realisation of the "Theme Park" is always the responsibility of one of the agencies taking part in the Trendtable and a different agency takes on the role every year. For Heimtextil 2017, the responsibility lies with the French trend studio Carlin International under the leadership of Exalis GmbH.

New trend theme: "Exploration"
"Exploration" is the overarching trend theme that defines this year's Trendtable for 2017/2018. 'The age of discovery is not yet over', said Italian climber Simone Moro in 2016 after he conquered the mountain Nanga Parbat in Pakistan in an exceptional feat of strength. His successful climb led him to encourage people to be brave enough to continue making discoveries in all areas of life and research. Driven by the vision of reinvigorating our scientific curiosity and spirit of discovery, Trendtable has selected a variety of innovative materials, textures and new patterns for the international trade fair Heimtextil that will supply designers with innovative strength and new creative inspiration.

Preview: trend presentation in September
The results of the Trendtable and Heimtextil Trendbook 2017/18 will be presented to the public in advance of the trade fair as part of the Theme Park Preview on 6 September 2016 in Frankfurt am Main. Exhibitors at Heimtextil will be sent the Trendbook in advance to assist in their product design and collections.

The following design studios will be working on Heimtextil trends 2017/2018:

Heimtextil Trendtable 2017. V.l.n.r.: Dan Namura (Dan Project), Gen Namura (Dan Project), Anne Marie Commandeur (stijlinstituut), Kristina Lehmann (Felix Diener), Lisa White (WGSN), Elodie Desmoles (Carlin), Nathalie Weinmann (Carlin), Felix Diener (Felix Diener), Katie Franklin (FranklinTill), Titia Dane (FranklinTill), Grietje Schepers (stijlinstituut)

Carlin International (France) bears the main responsibility for the development of the Heimtextil trends 2017/18. Exalis GmbH represent Carlin, the oldest trend agency in the world and one of the top five in the industry. Carlin offers services in the fields of style marketing, brand development and consultancy, the tracking of trends, industry-related trend books and the individual development of colour and trend worlds with customers in workshops. (www.carlin-groupe.fr)

Anne Marie Commandeur from the Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (Netherlands) manages a team of designers who focus on textile innovations, predictions, colour trends and strategic design concepts. With Grietje Schepers, the agency acts as a versatile and dynamic force in the industry and keeps fashion companies and companies involved in the fashion industry up to date with the most important developments. (www.stijlinstituut.nl)

Dan and Gen Namura from Dan Project(Japan) are young designers from Tokyo whose artistic heritage can be traced back to the famous yuzen craft comprising the dyeing and weaving of kimono materials in Kyoto. Their work ranges from designs for upholstery materials to bags and dresses, as well as the design of fine textiles and colourful graphic prints. (www.dan-web.net)

WGSN (U.S.A.) is one of the leading international trend studios for colours and design. Via a global network of design consultants and colour specialists, the company creates trend statements, quantifiable forecasts, outlooks and product data as well as reliable colour trends. Lisa White is the trend consultant representing WGSN at Heimtextil's Trendtable. (www.wgsngroup.com)

The British design studio FranklinTill (United Kingdom) with its headquarters in London comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broad-ranging international network of creatives and visionaries with whom the trend experts and agency founders Kate Franklin and Caroline Till collaborate. The multidisciplinary agency's varied projects include trend reports, colour forecasts, design realisations, brand developments and the curating of trade fairs and exhibitions. Kate Franklin and Titia Dane from the British studio are the representatives involved in the development of Heimtextil trends. (www.franklintill.com)

Felix Diener, textile designer and engineer (Germany) founded his own design studio in 2008. He designs carpets, curtains and living accessories. His creative work forms an interface between art and technology and is characterised in particular by the use of colours, materials and textures. As his portfolio reveals, his individual design philosophy goes far beyond colour and shape composition: he focuses on finding innovative structures, surfaces, compositions and production techniques. Together with Kristina Lehmann, Felix Diener represents the German view of trend statements at the Heimtextil Trendtable. (www.felixdiener.com)

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Further information about Heimtextil is available at www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com