d+a | Issue 115 • Apr/May 2020

27 MAJOR FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY It goes without saying that sustainability was another core focal point of Heimtextil 2020. As with previous years, it produced a Green Directory, featuring a record-breaking 259 sustainable exhibitors within its pages. These were further broken down into those who used eco-friendly materials and processes and had sustainable social standards and transparency in their businesses. Examples include Portuguese firm Sedacor, which presented its cork coverings, fabrics and yarn. A dedicated Green Village was also carved out of Hall 12.0, from which Green Tours were started and content was displayed around how textiles are produced in an environmentally-friendly and socially-responsible way. Also new this year was the Future Materials Library, an extension of Trend Space, but also underlain by sustainability. Curated by UK research and innovations agency FranklinTill, it is assembled on the belief that there is a need for a better, more circular approach to sourcing materials. As its name suggested, it presented alternative sources for textiles, including waste (denim offcuts), biological bi-products (human hair) and living materials (cotton fibre waste from the textile industry). For instance, British material researcher and designer Sanne Visser proposes using human hair clippings from salons to create ropes, cords and netting, substituting synthetic nylon. While the idea seems cringe-worthy at first, we have learnt to never say never to outlandish ideas. In fact, if anything, it would make for a great story – something which Christiane Muller, the Creative Director of interior and industrial design studio Muller Van Tol, shared during her talk on creating contract textiles that make sense. “In the end, fabrics contribute to story- telling,” she said, in addition to all their other positive uses. In fact, walking the halls of Heimtextil is not only a dizzying visual feast, but listening to what the exhibitors have to offer through their textiles is like reading a book with no ending. But that is the magic of their product and when the right ones are lain over surfaces within a space, serve to further enrich it and add so much more meaningful layers to it.