Home fashion business platform Ambiente India & Heimtextil India, held from June 25-27 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi recorded an increase in business visitors in its second edition with 7,233 professionals from India and abroad. For three days, 162 exhibitors from seven countries presented their multifaceted decor, lifestyle and furnishing products to the Indian market across 11,000 sq. mtr. of exhibition space. Focused on interior décor, home textiles and furnishings, the strategically co-located fairs proved to be the perfect way to start off the Indian buying season.

Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding said, “Ambiente India & Heimtextil India accompanied by the several value-add fringe programs make it a specialised platform for the business of home fashion. The spectacular displays by our exhibitors have raised the bar for ingenuity and modernity in interior spaces while the growth in business visitor demonstrates the increasing attractiveness of the shows in India.”

Exhibitors at the fair not only reported a good experience in terms of networking but also business and order confirmations. Exhibitor Sonali Sharma, Executive Director, Thanor Pottery said, “This is the first time we are exhibiting at a trade fair and we chose Ambiente India because of the Messe Frankfurt brand. The visitor response has been simply brilliant with some of the major retail chains ready to place orders, give us mall space and close deals.”

Heimtextil India exhibitors echoed similar views. Ajay Arora, Managing Director, D’décor said, “We launched an entire new category of blinds besides unveiling the summer spring and Diwali collections at the show and the response has been overwhelming. There has been incessant traffic at our stall right from day one. The show is well timed for the Indian market and offers fabulous opportunities, economy of time and great networking.”

Added Gaurav Sureka, Director, Rumours, “Heimtextil India is a strong show for the domestic market. The footfall has been more than last year and we managed to achieve our targets in just two days. Whoever visited our stall didn’t leave without ordering. We will definitely not go without confirming our bookings for the 2016 edition.”

German company and Ambiente India exhibitor ritterwerk GmbH, in search of distribution partners in India, left assured with their interactions at the fair and are confident of finding a suitable corporation partner for business in the coming months. Heimtextil India exhibitor Negi Sign Systems & Supplies, who was demonstrating digital printing solutions for textiles also reported good business during the fair.

Looking for products in the home and lifestyle segment, Calvin Wooly, Global Supplier Development Leader, Textiles, Ikea Services India, who visited the fair, said, “Ambiente India and Heimtextil India fairs are good opportunity from a local perspective to meet domestic suppliers. This is the most appropriate time for us to come here. We are looking into new segments and both the shows give us the scope to source for more products in India.”

Brands unveil 2015-16 collections

Attracting retailers, interior designers, project planners, buying agents and e-commerce majors from across India, the co-joined fairs witnessed an enthusiastic response from trade visitors to the latest product lines, innovations and trends. The extensive product showcase was further enlivened by the season’s new collections such as 2015 Diwali collection by D’décor, digitally printed and patented Warner Bros collection by Dicitex, fashion roller blinds by Dimora, 12 shade cards by Jaydurga Décor, digital weaving machine by Norindic, newly launched digital textile printing machines by Negi Sign Systems, award winning household appliances by ritterwek GmbH, stone art by Australian artist Gaurav Khanna for Pikscape and 24 karat gold and platinum plated dining products by Grey Rose, among many others.

Stressing on the constant need for innovation in décor, Manish Gajjar, Product Head – Home Décor, Borosil Glassworks said, “The Indian home products market is worth more than Rs 5,000 crores and will only grow. Everyone likes décor and spends on it according to their spending capacity. It is important to bring in new products and innovations in the segment to keep consumers’ interest running. Borosil this year launched products for dining and décor segments and the visitor response to the products has been really good.”

Interior Lifestyle Awards & Experience Zone

The twin fairs teamed up for the launch of the Interior Lifestyle Awards (ILA), the new launch pad for aspiring Indian designers willing to prove their creative mettle on an international platform. After evaluating over 400 entries from across the country, the jury selected eight contestants for the final round. The contestants created interior spaces on the themes like Collision by Sahil Bagga, Sarthak Sen, Jasleen Supreet, Infinity by Joya Nandurdikar & Amrita Guha, Introspection by Poonam Nimesh Parekh & Prashant Chauhan and Phoenix by Vandana Agarwal, Anar Patel & Ayush Kasliwal. Vandana Agarwal, Anar Patel & Ayush Kasliwal were announced winners and awarded at the ILA Gala Night. All the three winners will fly down to Frankfurt to display their concepts at Ambiente & Heimtextil - the world’s most renowned consumer goods and home textiles shows that set next season’s furnishing and design trends internationally.

Also a big hit with the trade visitors, this year, was the Experience Zone demonstrating exciting themes in interior spaces that can inspire and be converted into commercial concepts. Sunil Sethi, President, Fashion Design Council of India said, “The ILA experience zone is something nobody should miss. Every contestant has put in their best effort. I have seen their creative skills and they are at par with anyone else in the world. We needed a Heimtextil and an Ambiente in India and this gives an impression of what there is for the best.”

Sustainability in home textiles

Sustainability - a topic that is gaining much attention globally was taken up at Heimtextil India in an exclusive seminar open to industry professionals visiting the fair. Bringing sector specialists to address the audience, the seminar dealt with important topics of organics in home textile industry, sustainable fibre production and processing, recycled polyester fibers, innovations in dyes & chemicals among others.

An important highlight of the seminar was the panel discussion on ‘Sustainability from Fibre to Textile – Challenges and Way Forward’ which offered a great opportunity to the audience to discuss the issues related to sustainability to further increase their understanding of the subject.

Another highlight of the event was ‘Live Sessions’ covering vital topics in interior designing such as ‘Window Dressing, Creative Textiles and the Role of Interior Décor and Furnishing in dressing your home for optimum design and functionality’.

The next editions of the fairs will return to New Delhi from June 22 to 24, 2016 with a host of new innovations in interior design, lifestyle, homeware, textiles, furnishing, fabrics and décor.