Exhibitions, fashion shows and trade fairs are considered essential because they facilitate face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking for both the exhibitors and the visitors. But with a marked increase in the number of local and international shows, clients are finding it increasingly difficult to participate in all of them, and hence they rely mainly on the organizers’ profile before venturing into an event. Messe Frankfurt of Germany, for one, stands out as a prominent world organizer of well-attended industry-oriented shows for more than two centuries.
Its Indian subsidiary, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt. Ltd., established in 1998, has played an important role in bringing its well-known international events within a number of most promising verticals in India itself. The company is well known for its premium textile fairs considered the most professionally-organized trade events in the country.
Heimtextil India, a leading trade fair for home furnishings & contract textiles, and Techtextil India, a premier trade platform featuring innovative trends in the technical textile & nonwoven industry, are now being regularly organized in India.
A double-digit growth both in the number of exhibitors and visitors reiterates the world exhibitors’ firm belief in the Indian market as well as Messe Frankfurt India. By creating the right channel, the company offers potential opportunities for getting quality visitors for such events, thereby ensuring that the clients’ requirements are fully met.
Recently, the Indian entity successfully conducted the second edition of Heimtextil India at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The three-day event saw a good number of satisfied exhibitors and visitors within the home textile vertical.
In the field of textiles, Messe Frankfurt’s “Texpertise Network” plays a prominent role as it includes a number of leading textile trade fairs worldwide. The textile event is conducted at 45 international venues. Heimtextil sister fairs are also held in China, the US, Russia and Japan, bridging the gap between international home and contract textile buyers with the suppliers. Heimtextil India version 2.0 was kick-started last year with many important players within the home textile space participating in it.
“India has, for many years, focused mainly on exports of home textile products. Only in the last few years have manufacturers realized the domestic potential and started focusing inwards. That is why it is a perfect timing for Heimtextil Indian show as we sense the shift has already begun and will gradually grow in the coming years,” said Mr. Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia.
This year’s Heimtextil India, which was the second edition of the event, had 113 paricipants covering an exhibition space of 8,500 sq.m. This represented an over 40 per cent growth over the previous show. Co-located with Ambiente India, it had participants from China, Germany, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and the US, all showcasing their latest offerings in home textile and interior décor verticals.
“The consumption pattern is changing in India. We see more and more people shifting to better lifestyle. Usage of fabrics for a variety of home applications is on the rise, giving homes a better modern look compared to the old classical ways,” added Mr. Manek.
This year’s show saw a number of new initiatives being introduced, including the ILA Experience Zone where young designers were provided a platform to display their innovative products. More than 400 applications were received for this year’s ILA Awards, from which the jury selected eight finalists who were given free space at Heimtextil India to present their innovative creations to the audience.
At the awards presentation function, one of the finalists was presented the ILA Trophy and an all-expense paid travel to the Heimtextil Frankfurt show to present their award winning creations.
“The ILA Award is an initiative to reignite the passion of root-level craftsmen / architects and an encouragement to continue this dying art,” stressed Mr. Manek.