Fashion
Heimtextil 2026 prepares global textile industry for future with AI
AI accelerates creative processes and reshapes working methods along the entire textile value chain – from design concepts and material visualisations to data migration and everyday workflows, to the implementation of new products and concepts. Heimtextil 2026 makes these developments tangible and brings together renowned experts who demonstrate how AI is used in practice and what potential it offers the industry.
Heimtextil 2026, from January 13–16, will explore how AI is reshaping the global textile industry.
Through expert talks, trend showcases, live demos and immersive installations, the fair highlights practical AI applications.
Key attractions include Alcova’s Heimtextil Trends 26/27, Patricia Urquiola’s interactive installation ‘among-all’ and a live talk with AI pioneer Tim Fu.
AI from stage to practice
The central knowledge hub is the Texpertise Stage in Hall 6.0. This is where Heimtextil brings together a forward-looking, business-relevant content programme and translates technological innovation into practical insights for the industry. One of the highlights is the live talk with Tim Fu: the London-based architect and AI pioneer discusses interior design in the age of AI with Simon Keane-Cowell, Editor-in-Chief of Architonic. On the first day of the fair, Anja Bisgaard Gaede (Founder, Spott trends & business aps) talks about workflows, data integration and the textile future shaped by AI. Elisabeth Ramm (Atelier Brückner) shares insights into AI and materials in exhibition design. Using tangible examples, Martin Auerbach (Association of German Home Textiles Manufacturers) explains how AI is used in everyday work and how companies can integrate it profitably into their daily workflows. Sleep expert Markus Kamps moderates dedicated sessions on the megatrend of sleep and technology, featuring numerous guest speakers. At the Talk Spot in Hall 12.0, Architonic hosts a discussion with exhibitor Oriental Weavers on carpets between craftsmanship and global production.
Heimtextil Trends 26/27: AI impulses for design, retail and industry
How can AI-driven design processes be combined with traditional textile craftsmanship? The Heimtextil Trends 26/27 provide answers and orientation for the coming season under the motto “Craft is a verb”. In the Trend Arena in Hall 6.1, the design platform Alcova presents six stylistic directions that explore how high-tech and craftsmanship interact. This interplay becomes visible in a vibrant colour palette, where “glitches”, unexpected digital disruptions, and radical synthetic accents deliberately break through the natural colour spectrum. Daily talks and guided tours with experts translate the trend themes into concrete business insights.
“among-all“: AI-generated design experience by Patricia Urquiola
What happens when we ourselves become part of AI-based creation? Patricia Urquiola explores this question in her installation “among-all” (Hall 3.0). The designer combines futuristic textile elements, sustainable materials and new AI technologies. “among-all” showcases how textiles can function as transformative and intelligent materials and actively involves visitors in the spatial staging. In a live talk on 14 January 2026, the design icon discusses her visionary approach on the Texpertise Stage. Daily guided tours bring the interior design of tomorrow to life.
AI as creative partner for the contract business
With Interior.Architecture.Hospitality, Heimtextil offers decision-makers from interior design, architecture, hospitality and the contract business a customised programme. At the dedicated Talk Spot in Hall 3.1, Mauro Brigham (Founder ncbham) discusses why design is never static. Helen Häkli (Freelance Architect, bdia) shows how AI is used as a creative partner in interior design. Further specialised lectures, including contributions from Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk (JOI-Design) and Robin Hepp (Kids Studio), complement the extensive hospitality programme.
New opportunities for craftsmanship and interior decoration
What AI can deliver in concrete terms for interior decoration and the crafts sector is demonstrated by AI expert Alexander Ligowski on the DecoTeam Stage in Hall 3.0. Using selected examples, he provides hands-on insights into AI-supported interior design – ranging from room and colour concepts to sales support, text generation for social media and the optimisation of quotations.
New Talents Area: perspectives of the next design generation
How is the next generation of designers engaging with AI technology? In 2026, Heimtextil offers fresh insights with the debut of the New Talents Area in Hall 6.1. The curated exhibition presents emerging design talents from around the world and enables direct exchange with international newcomers.
Heimtextil 2026 takes place from 13 to 16 January 2026.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
During the first eleven months of ****, textile exports eased by *.* per cent to $***.* million. This decline was linked to subdued demand for raw and intermediate textile products from local garment manufacturers, as apparel producers relied more on existing inventories and selective sourcing, alongside reduced re-export volumes. Over the same period, exports of other manufactured textile articles increased by *.* per cent to $***.* million, reflecting steady demand for niche and value-added products, as per the Central Bank’s publication External Sector Performance – November ****.
Combined exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles accounted for **.** per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the ten-month period. Total textile product exports amounted to $*,*** million between January and November ****, while the country’s overall industrial exports were valued at $*,***.* million over the same period. This underscores the continued dominance of the apparel sector in Sri Lanka’s industrial export base, despite ongoing global demand volatility.
By
Reuters
Published
January 8, 2026
From Paris to New York, department stores are sharpening their focus on curated shopping experiences- ice-skating shows, wine tasting, and architectural tours- to try to win back shoppers.
The push has gained urgency as Saks Global’s mounting troubles highlight the sector’s struggle to stay relevant amid competition from luxury brands’ own boutiques and fast-growing e-commerce platforms. Analysts say the trend is more than cosmetic. It reflects a structural shift in a sector under pressure from changing consumer habits and declining foot traffic.
“In today’s market conditions, selling luxury goods requires an outstanding experience, which works best in outstanding venues,” said Benjamin Sebban, head of retail investment at Knight Frank in Paris.
Qatar-owned Printemps‘ new Manhattan store features paper replicas of French landmarks- a reminder of its Parisian heritage- and hosts exclusive launches and wine tasting.
“This is more than a place to shop- it’s a space to live, linger, and immerse yourself in a new kind of luxury lifestyle,” Printemps America CEO Thierry Prevost told Reuters, highlighting the store’s fine dining restaurant, champagne bar and talks with designers.
In Paris, Galeries Lafayette spent more than 100 million euros ($117 million) restoring its stained-glass cupola, crediting the revamp with lifting visits above pre-pandemic levels. The push aligns with research from consultancy Bain that found experiential sectors like hospitality and fine dining drove luxury market growth between 2023 and 2025.
Success isn’t guaranteed, however. LVMH poured around 750 million euros into refurbishing the art nouveau building of its La Samaritaine department store facing Paris’ Rue de Rivoli. But the store still struggled after its 2021 reopening in comparison with LVMH’s Le Bon Marche Paris store, and the pair were combined in a restructuring last year.
Analysts say department stores are betting that curated events and architectural upgrades can revive their relevance amid tougher trading.
Saks Global, whose bonds are publicly traded, reported a 13% year-on-year drop in second-quarter revenue to $1.6 billion in October and an adjusted core loss of $77 million. CEO Marc Metrick stepped down after the company missed a bond payment, triggering reports it was preparing for bankruptcy.
While analysts cite inventory missteps and acquisition-related debt as key factors, they say Saks’ plight reflects a deeper structural squeeze: department stores are losing ground to mass-market chains offering value and luxury brands’ own boutiques promising exclusivity. “What you’re seeing with Saks is a symptom of a much larger problem,” said UBS analyst Jay Sole.
Bernstein analysts say US department stores should move toward concession-heavy models- providing multi-brand sales staff while letting brands manage operations and inventory. Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II offers a template: the city leases prime store spaces through a bidding process, and says values have quadrupled in a decade.
“Multi-brand retailers need to reinvent themselves and go back to their scouting and discovery mission,” said Bernstein analyst Luca Solca.
Some stores are experimenting with partnerships. In November, Parisian retailer BHV hosted the first physical outlet for Chinese budget brand Shein, although the move drew criticism from some competitors and consumers.
“The right answer would be for department stores to build out their own online offering, with their own identity,” Knight Frank’s Sebban said.
Global department store sales are projected to have declined by 4% to 6% in 2025 and to show little recovery through 2030, Bain forecast in November, lagging growth estimates for the luxury sector overall. US retailer Macy’s warned in December of weaker-than-expected holiday-quarter profits due to cutbacks in discretionary spending. London’s Harrods in October reported a 17% decline in underlying operating profit for 2024.
By contrast, e-commerce players are thriving. MyTheresa, owned by LuxExperience, more than doubled quarterly core earnings in November, offering similar products to Saks but with perks like free shipping for orders over $400.
© Thomson Reuters 2026 All rights reserved.
Through acquisitions of strategic physical retail locations like Swindon, Frasers Group supports key brand partners’ outlet strategies – including Nike, adidas, BOSS – and aims to serve consumers across the UK with the best value and product offerings.
Swindon Designer Outlet, which opened in 1997, totals 250,000 sq. ft and attracts over 3 million visitors annually. This announcement follows just a month after the Group’s strategic acquisition of Braehead Shopping Centre and highlights Frasers Group’s steadfast approach to expanding its property portfolio.
Frasers Group has acquired Swindon Designer Outlet as part of its strategy to build a leading global brand ecosystem.
The 250,000 square feet centre draws over 3 million annual visitors and supports key outlet partners such as Nike, Adidas and Boss.
CEO Michael Murray said the move strengthens the group’s property strategy and expands opportunities for its brands and partners.
Michael Murray, CEO of Frasers Group, comments: “Physical retail is central to our Elevation Strategy and investing in Swindon – one of the UK’s top five outlets by footfall – strengthens our position as both retailer and landlord. This acquisition reinforces our property strategy and unlocks new opportunities for our brands and our partners.”
Frasers Group was advised by James Keany, Executive Director, Head of National Agency at CBRE on this acquisition.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
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