Messe Frankfurt’s press center has been closed for remodeling for about a year. I saw the revised facilities for the first time this week when I arrived to attend Heimtextil, the world’s largest trade fair for home textiles.
The rooms are nicely done. The press kits are easy to get to (even though the many of the lockers are so high up that they are not) and they have more computers for journalists to use than they have had before. Thank you!
A very nice feature is a living wall that borders the interview rooms and working desks. If you have been reading The Trend Curve, you know I have been talking about living walls, which are vertical gardens, since early last year. Now Messe Frankfurt has installed one in the press center. This foliage wall is a breath of fresh air—both literally and figuratively.
When I first saw it, I assumed this all-Green mass of was artificial. I discovered that it was not when I saw a puddle of water on the floor, and then I looked closer. If this wall isn’t real I’ll eat my hat!
This living wall was a perfect symbol for the green trend that was rooted even more deeply than last year at Heimtextil. Whether the topic was organic fibers, sustainable resources, constructions that save energy (through faster drying or finishes that mean washing less often, for example) or manufacturing closer to home, the eco movement was not only untouched by the wobbly economy, but was stronger in spite of it. Companies confirmed that we must continue on the path to conservation and environmental responsibility, not matter what.
In addition to a picture of the living wall in Messe Frankfurt’s press room, I am including pictures of a couple of eco-trend items. The first is from Yanus. These sheets are colored with dyes that take less water, and have an anti-microbial finish so they need to be washed less often. This image is above.
The bedding below is from Santens. Made of 52% bamboo and 48% cotton, these sheets will keep you cooler in the summer as they absorb moisture and are inherently antibacterial.
Vossen combined a new weaving process with pima-cotton fibers in their new Vossen Compact Collection of towels. Each one offers outstanding absorbency and excellent drying capability, but they also save up to 30% of the energy needed to wash and dry them. Other new towels offer downsized options (50 x 80 cm instead of the standard 50 x 100 cm), resulting in a 20% reduction in the energy needed to wash them. After so many years of increasing towel sizes the time may be right to go in the other direction, changing the accepted formula from big = luxury to small = eco-conscious.
Hi very nice to find out the color trends for the future. But had to say, i do not see the dog shape eye shadow box, only the heart. anyway, kudos