NEW YORK, New York — In spite of the fact that German market textile sales declined 4.1 percent in 2012, Heimtextil Frankfurt managed to increase its exhibitor base to 2,616 from 62 countries in 2013, the third year in a row, according to Heimtextil Frankfurt director Meike Kern.

She delivered a presentation to the press at the Ace Hotel along with her colleague Mark Hammonds, President of the Color Marketing Group and Trend Forum Member. Mieke Kern

German textile export rates were also slightly up according to figures presented   Kern at the Messe Frankfurt’s annual press conference in New York.  “2014 promises to be larger than last year,” Kern said.

Overall, textile sales in the European Union dropped by nearly four percent, Kern said. Exports to non EU countries grew by nearly three percent. The EU’s top five trading partners are the USA, Turkey, China, Russia and Switzerland, she said.

In addition to presenting design trends, Kern identified ecommerce sales worldwide with Great Britain, USA and Germany in the top three online sales performers. “Over the past three years, annual growth rates averaged 18 percent,” she said.

Special events at Heimtextil Frankfurt in 2014 will include the Young Creations Award for Upcycling of Materials by Design students in Hall 4.2; European Digital textile Conference in Hall 4 on January 9/10.