CLOVER, S.C. — January 16, 2026 — Clover Knits, Inc. (CK), a trusted, family-owned supplier of 100% Made in the USA quality knit fabrics for more than four decades, announces the appointment of textile industry veteran Stacey Bridges to the newly created position of Vice President of Sales and Operations.
Stacey Bridges
With more than 30 years of textile experience, Mr. Bridges brings deep industry expertise to his new role at CK. He most recently served as VP of Sales at Hanes Dye & Finishing and held a variety of production and sales management roles during his 30 years with the former Carolina Cotton Works (CCW). Bridges holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science from Clemson University.
“Stacey’s vast experience makes him the perfect fit to drive sales growth and optimize our operations to best meet customer needs,” said CK President Kevin McCarter. “Widely recognized for his industry knowledge and customer focus, we look forward to Stacey playing a strategic role as we expand on the innovation that distinguishes CK in the market.”
“I am excited to be joining the Clover Knits team,” said Bridges. “I look forward to helping new and existing customers achieve their product and production goals by leveraging the innovation that CK is widely recognized for across the industry.”
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — January 15, 2026 — Effective from January 1, 2026, Volker Gingter, has been appointed the new Managing Director of A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and will steer the fortunes of the leading dyeing and finishing technology company going forward.
Volker Gingter
Gunnar Meyer stepped down as Managing Director on December 31, 2025, and will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until his well-earned retirement in July 2026.
“All at Monforts would like to thank Gunnar Meyer for his dedication and his great engagement in endeavouring to keep Monforts competitive and defend its position as a world market leader,” said Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “We wish him all the best for the next exciting chapter of his life.”
Mr Gingter started his career as an electrician in 1997 at Sucker-Müller-Hacoba, also headquartered in Mönchengladbach, and first joined Monforts in 2000 as an inhouse commissioning engineer. Between 2010 and 2013 he worked at Esprit on a new European warehouse before rejoining Monforts as Engineering Service Manager. He became Head of the Service Department in 2020 and in 2025 also took charge of the Spare Parts Department.
He is now looking forward to meeting the worldwide Monforts network of customers and suppliers personally at the forthcoming Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt.
“Today’s volatile worldwide market situation will be a challenge, but I am ready to navigate Monforts through this demanding time,” he said. “The Techtextil exhibition serves as an excellent platform for networking and meeting with key players and provides a great opportunity to meet many customers and potential new ones. Keeping good relationships with customers is essential and it is our aim to fulfil their expectations when investing in our products.”
A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1884 and today is a leading supplier of textile dyeing and finishing machines as well as coating devices. The company is a market leader in stenters, continuous dyeing ranges, sanforising ranges and special executions for denim and for the finishing of technical textiles.
At its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, customers can undertake fabric trials on the latest Monforts equipment under real production conditions. For over 40 years, the company’s production site has been in St. Stefan, Austria. Monforts is a member of CHTC Fong’s Group.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — January 15, 2026 — Innovations are the textile industry’s response to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and continued restraint in investment. Today, this became clear at the press conference of the leading international trade fairs Techtextil and Texprocess.
PHoto — Messe Frankfurt / Pietro Sutera
In a panel discussion, industry representatives explored how innovation is accelerating the transformation of the textile sector – from artificial intelligence to sustainable materials and new production models. This innovative strength is concentrated in the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards, which showcase pioneering solutions driving the textile transformation.
“Especially in times of restrained investment, it becomes clear just how crucial innovative strength is,” emphasized Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.
“Techtextil and Texprocess are the places where ideas are not only presented but further developed into market-ready solutions. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards make this innovative strength tangible – giving new technologies visibility, credibility and often the decisive impetus needed to turn research into concrete industrial applications and partnerships.”
The discussion also focused on how companies can remain competitive in the view of global challenges. Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, made it clear: “Today, innovation serves both as a lever for efficiency and a driver of growth. Digitalisation, automation and AI enable companies to conserve resources, produce flexibly and reposition themselves more effectively and competitively.”
The extent to which digital processes are already transforming development and production was illustrated by insights from industry practice. Walter Wählt, Chairman of the Texprocess Innovation Award and Senior Director Advanced Creation at adidas, explained: “3D design, virtual prototyping and AI drastically shorten development cycles and reduce material use. Yet despite all the technological momentum, people remain decisive – creativity, experience and judgment cannot be automated.”
António Braz Costa, Chairman of the Techtextil Innovation Award and General Manager at CITEVE, underlined the central role of research and advanced materials in making sustainability viable:
“Sustainability, particularly when applied to high-performance materials and products, only becomes economically viable through a virtuous tandem of research and innovation. Recycling technologies, circular solutions or entirely new materials are meaningless if they remain confined to the lab. What matters is their translation into real industrial processes. Trade fairs such as Techtextil and Texprocess – and the Innovation Awards themselves – are critical in bridging research and the market.”
The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards bring these developments together into a clear vision of the industry’s future. They demonstrate how technical textiles, nonwovens and textile processing are evolving through AI, new materials and sustainable production methods – and why innovation is becoming a decisive competitive factor. The award-winning solutions exemplify the ambition of the two leading trade fairs: to bring research, technology and application together in a way that turns ideas into market-ready answers to global challenges.
Techtextil and Texprocess will take place from April 21-24, 2026.
The winners of the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards will be announced starting on April 14, 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS — January 15, 2026 — Storm Creek has announced a meaningful sustainability milestone: the company has achieved bluesign® PRODUCT status: becoming the first US-based supplier in the promotional products industry to earn this globally respected certification.
While this marks an industry first, for Storm Creek, it represents something far more important: a continuation of doing what they believe is right. bluesign® PRODUCT is one of the most rigorous and transparent systems in the apparel industry, verifying responsible chemical management, reduced environmental impact, and safer working conditions across the supply chain – standards Storm Creek chose to pursue to lead by example, not headlines.
Today, 75 Storm Creek pullover and quarter-zip styles are officially certified as bluesign® PRODUCT, reflecting a significant investment in verified materials, trusted supplier partnerships, and responsible production practices.
This achievement represents more than a single product win – it demonstrates a scalable, measurable commitment embedded throughout Storm Creek’s assortment, reinforcing the company’s belief that meaningful sustainability requires accountability, transparency, and long-term follow-through.
What does bluesign® PRODUCT mean?
To qualify, a garment must contain at least 90% bluesign® approved fabrics and 40% bluesign® approved components and be produced in facilities that meet strict environmental and social responsibility criteria. Every step, from raw materials to finished product, is evaluated to ensure safer chemistry, responsible resource use, and reduced impact on both people and the planet.
“I was impressed that the Storm Creek team had bluesign and bluesign® PRODUCT as a goal even before joining as a System Partner,” said Jenn Sugiyama, Brand Services Manager at bluesign. “It was one of the ways they were already ‘seeking better’ – looking to increase sustainability across their systems, suppliers, and products. Achieving bluesign® PRODUCT is not an easy task, as it requires brands and suppliers to meet strict criteria to create products with minimal impact on workers and the environment, responsible use of resources, and the highest level of consumer safety.”
“This achievement isn’t about being first, it’s about being accountable,” said Laura Smith, Sustainability & Compliance Manager at Storm Creek. “Having 75 products officially recognized as bluesign® PRODUCT shows that this work is built into our design and sourcing process, not treated as a one-off. It validates the care we put into selecting materials, partners, and processes that protect people, conserve resources, and raise the bar for our industry.”
Storm Creek’s sustainability journey has never been about shortcuts or surface-level claims. As a Certified B Corporation with an EcoVadis Gold rating, the company has long believed that sustainability must be measurable, credible, and embedded into everyday decisions, not treated as a marketing moment.
We didn’t pursue bluesign® PRODUCT to check a box or claim a title,” said Teresa Fudenberg, CEO of Storm Creek. “We did it because it aligns with our values and our responsibility as a supplier our partners trust. If we expect our industry to move forward, we have to be willing to put in the hard work. This is simply us staying true to who we are.
MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois — January 15, 2026 — The global shift away from PFAS is accelerating. PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a large class of synthetic fluorinated chemicals numbering in the thousands.
Used for decades in coatings, textiles, packaging, and other materials, they provide water and oil repellency, chemical resistance, and durability. Their persistence in the environment and increasing regulatory scrutiny are driving a rapid move toward PFAS-free formulations.
In the United States, the FDA has overseen a voluntary phase-out of PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents in paper food packaging. In Europe, regulators are advancing targeted PFAS restrictions in applications such as firefighting foams and consumer textiles.
Behind these policy actions lies a technical challenge: PFAS-enabled properties are not single functions but combinations of repellency, stability, and barrier performance. As companies reformulate, the question is not only whether PFAS-free materials can match performance, but how they behave after environmental stress.
To address those durability questions, manufacturers are turning to accelerated weathering for insight into long-term performance, and can rely on Atlas to provide the exposure conditions required. The global leader in weathering durability testing, Atlas enables comparisons of PFAS-based and PFAS-free formulations under controlled cycles of full-spectrum light, temperature, humidity, and water. Atlas platforms – including its Weather-Ometers®, Xenotest®, and SUNTEST® instruments – compress stress into weeks of laboratory exposure designed to represent end-use environments, giving R&D teams earlier visibility into long-term performance.
Durability at the Center of PFAS-Free Reformulation
Across sectors, PFAS alternatives are emerging. Yet for applications exposed to the elements, many studies focus on short-term performance, leaving questions about how PFAS-free chemistries respond to prolonged UV, heat, and moisture.
Atlas durability data helps clarify how performance may shift over time, supporting material selection decisions that account for environmental exposure. Many industrial, electronic, and medical applications face tighter performance margins and fewer proven replacements, while research shows that PFAS-based treatments can change under extended UV and moisture exposure. Field and outdoor exposure – including testing at Atlas laboratory sites – can further validate how repellency, appearance, and surface character evolve under natural sun, rain, and heat.
Standards-Based Weathering for Faster Answers
Accelerated weathering provides a pathway to more comparable data. Atlas instruments emulate environmental stressors while supporting internationally recognized methods such as ISO 4892-2 xenon-arc exposure for plastics, ISO 16474-2 for coatings, and ISO 105-B10 for textiles, and related ASTM procedures. These standards help ensure that test conditions are consistent and relevant, critical for decision-making in textiles, Atlas xenon-arc weathering instruments are used to evaluate whether durable water repellents retain performance after UV and humidity cycles. In coatings, weathered panels reveal how appearance and barrier properties change over time. Post-exposure evaluation and chemical analysis then follow, informed by weathering data from Atlas platforms.
“Companies are moving quickly to replace PFAS chemistry, and they need durability data they can trust,” said Dr. Oliver Rahäuser, senior product manager at Atlas Material Testing Technology. “Weathering gives teams a way to compare new and established formulations under realistic stress conditions.”
To learn more about Atlas weathering solutions for PFAS-free formulations, visit https://www.atlas-mts.com/
MARIETTA, GA — January 15, 2026 — Atomic-6, a manufacturer of advanced mobility composites, today announced that Portal Space Systems has selected Space Armor® tiles as the primary Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) protection system for its upcoming spacecraft. The tiles will be installed prior to integration on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 Rideshare mission, scheduled to launch in October 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission marks the first operational orbital deployment of Space Armor® tiles, validating the technology for broader commercial and national security applications.
Key Facts
Customer: Portal Space Systems
Product: Atomic-6 Space Armor® tiles
Application: Primary MMOD protection for critical spacecraft systems
Mission: SpaceX Transporter-18 Rideshare
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9
Launch Window: October 2026
Deployment Purpose: On-orbit performance evaluation, installation validation, and integration best practices
Portal has purchased newly announced Space Armor® tiles to protect mission-critical systems from potentially mission-ending debris strikes. During the flight, Portal will evaluate installation procedures, assess on-orbit performance, and establish best practices for integrating Space Armor® technology across future spacecraft designs.
“Portal is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit, and they need protection that keeps up with their ambitions,” said Atomic-6 CEO, Trevor Smith. “These flights move Space Armor® tiles from operational testing to real commercial use, and they demonstrate how quickly the industry can adopt better ways to survive in the harshest, most debris-filled operating environment while simultaneously helping to reduce the risk of Kessler syndrome.”
Trevor Smith
The demonstration mission represents the first orbital validation of Space Armor® tiles’ resilience under real operational conditions.
“Our customers rely on Portal spacecraft to remain maneuverable over extended mission timelines,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems. “That means protecting critical systems in a way that supports, rather than limits, on-orbit performance. By incorporating Atomic-6’s Space Armor® tiles into our spacecraft, we’re expanding our ability to offer customers sustained maneuverability and longer operational time on orbit. We’re pleased to have Atomic-6 as part of the Starburst-1 mission.”
Why MMOD Protection Matters
Spacecraft routinely encounter millions of untrackable debris particles traveling faster than 7 kilometers per second (16,000 mph)—a speed that would carry an aircraft from Los Angeles to New York City in just nine minutes. Even millimeter-scale debris can puncture fuel tanks, destroy batteries, or disable spacecraft electronics.
Traditional MMOD mitigation systems, such as metallic Whipple shields, add mass, block RF signals, and often create additional debris upon impact.
Space Armor® Tiles
Space Armor® tiles are:
Fragmentation resistant, stopping debris without creating harmful secondary ejecta
Lighter and thinner than traditional Whipple shields
Easy to install, supporting scalable spacecraft architectures
In this side-by-side demonstration against aluminum, Space Armor® tiles successfully stopped a projectile traveling faster than 7 km/s while producing virtually no secondary debris. Comparable aluminum shielding generated fragments larger than the original projectile, increasing risk to both the spacecraft and surrounding orbital assets.
Scalable Protection Options
Space Armor® tiles come in two configurations, each offered in RF-permeable or RF-blocking variants:
Space Armor® Lite:
Withstands impacts up to 3 mm, covering all untrackable debris and more than 90% of LEO debris.
Space Armor® Max:
Withstands impacts up to 12.5 mm and is rated for human space station protection.
Both configurations minimize shielding mass, stowage volume, post-impact ejecta, and overall mission risk.
Space Armor® Lite Tile Availability
Space Armor® lite tiles are available now, and Atomic-6 is currently accepting requests for quotes.
With the upcoming Portal mission, Atomic-6 continues to expand its portfolio of advanced technologies, including the Light WingTM solar array to deliver next-generation power and protection solutions for military, government, and commercial operators.
Atomic-6
Atomic-6 designs, engineers, and manufactures advanced composite materials for aerospace, hypersonics, and defense applications. The company’s proprietary manufacturing process optimizes fiber-to-resin ratios, reduces porosity, and accelerates production cycle times. Learn more at atomic-6.com.
Portal Space Systems
Portal Space Systems is a next-generation spacecraft company building highly maneuverable, reconfigurable spacecraft for defense, civil, and commercial missions. Its Starburst and Supernova vehicles operate across and between orbital regimes, delivering responsive on-orbit mobility. Portal emerged from stealth in 2024, earned STRATFI support, raised one of the largest publicly announced seed rounds in the sector, and was named a Via Satellite “Top 10 Startup to Watch.”
CLEVELAND, OH — January 12, 2026 — MMI Textiles, a leading U.S.-based textile manufacturer known for innovation, quality, and service, today announced two important leadership updates that further position the company for continued growth and operational excellence.
Kathleen Wagner has joined MMI Textiles as Director of Sales, bringing more than 15 years of proven sales and customer leadership experience.
Kathleen Wagner
Based in MMI’s Brooklyn, Ohio headquarters, Wagner will lead the company’s sales organization with a focus on sales team development, customer growth, new market expansion, and strategic alignment across the business.
Wagner joins MMI Textiles from Hyland Software, where she held multiple senior leadership roles spanning sales management and customer success. Throughout her career, she has built and led high-performing teams, driven meaningful revenue growth, and fostered strong customer partnerships. MMI intentionally sought a leader outside the textile industry to bring fresh perspective, strong sales leadership discipline, and scalable management experience to support the company’s next phase of growth.
MMI Textiles also announced that Scott Roubic has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 5, 2026. Roubic succeeds longtime CFO Kathy Stevens, who is retiring from her full-time role after years of dedicated service. Stevens will remain with MMI Textiles in a part-time capacity to support a smooth transition and provide continuity.
Scott Roubic
Roubic brings more than 30 years of senior financial leadership experience across public, private, and private-equity-backed organizations. His background includes financial strategy, treasury, M&A, enterprise risk management, and operational finance within multi-site and complex operating environments. Prior to joining MMI Textiles, Roubic held executive finance leadership roles at TravelCenters of America, JOANN Stores, and Wholesome International.
As CFO, Roubic will oversee all financial functions, including strategic planning, financial reporting, treasury, and operational finance, supporting MMI Textiles’ continued investment in innovation, domestic manufacturing, and long-term growth initiatives.
“We are thrilled to welcome both Kathleen and Scott to the MMI leadership team,” said Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and Owner of MMI Textiles. “Kathleen brings the sales leadership, structure, and people development experience that will help elevate our commercial organization, while Scott’s financial expertise and strategic mindset will be instrumental as we continue to grow and invest in the future of U.S. textiles. We are also deeply grateful to Kathy Stevens for her many contributions and are pleased she will continue supporting the business during this transition.”
These leadership appointments reflect MMI Textiles’ continued commitment to building a strong, experienced executive team capable of supporting customers, partners, and employees while advancing innovation and growth across its diverse markets.
CARY, N.C. — January 13, 2026 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the future dates and locations for its FiltXPO™ and IDEA® events, reaffirming its long-term commitment to serving the global filtration, nonwovens, and engineered materials communities.
As part of this announcement, INDA confirmed that IDEA®, its flagship conference and exhibition, will return to its traditional three-year cycle following IDEA®27. While IDEA®27 will take place two years after the most recent IDEA® in 2025, this two-year timing is a one-time occurrence. INDA will maintain its long-standing cadence and value for this event moving forward. IDEA®27 will take place March 23-25, 2027 in Kansas City, Missouri.
IDEA® is the largest nonwovens and engineered materials exhibition in the Americas, bringing together global industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers. In addition to the exhibition, IDEA® features a robust conference program that addresses key industry hot topics, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, market trends, and emerging technologies.
FiltXPO™ is a conference and exhibition focused exclusively on the filtration industry. The technical conference program delivers in-depth insights into filtration science, applications, and advancements, while the exhibition provides a comprehensive showcase of innovations across the full spectrum of air, water, gas, and oil filtration components and technologies. FiltXPO™ 2026 will be held October 28-29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Future Dates and Locations
FiltXPO™ 2028 March 29–30, 2028
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
IDEA®30 March 26–29, 2030
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas
FiltXPO™ 2030 (Co-located with IDEA®30) March 26–29, 2030
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas
The co-location of FiltXPO™ and IDEA®30 in 2030 will provide expanded opportunities for cross-industry engagement, knowledge exchange, business development across the filtration and nonwoven sectors, and synergies for both exhibitors and visitors.
To view 2026 INDA events and professional development courses, visit:
https://www.inda.org/events/calendar.php
Posted: January 13, 2026
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
RALEIGH, N.C. — January 13, 2026 — Behnam Pourdeyhimi will step down from his role as executive director of The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), effective Dec. 31, after more than a quarter-century at the helm.
Taking over for Pourdeyhimi is Raoul Farer, who is currently the executive deputy director of NWI and a professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science.
Behnam Pourdeyhimi
“I was thrilled that Raoul joined NC State last year,” Pourdeyhimi said. “I’ve been incredibly impressed with his accomplishments and firmly believe he is the right choice to lead the institute into the future.”
When Pourdeyhimi first joined NC State himself, over 25 years ago, it was in part to take on a leadership role in what was then known as the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC). Under his vision, NCRC morphed into NWI — becoming the world’s first accredited academic program for the interdisciplinary field of engineered fabrics.
NCRC was established in 1991 as a State/Industry-University Cooperative Research Center with matching grants from the National Science Foundation, the State of North Carolina and several industry partners. Upon the conclusion of NSF grant funding in the 1998-99 academic year — the same time Pourdeyhimi got to NC State — NCRC had to become self-sustaining.
“I remember well the challenges we overcame and the opportunities we seized along the way,” Pourdeyhimi said.
In 2007, NCRC was discontinued and all of its programs were merged into the newly established NWI. Over the next three years, Pourdeyhimi would oversee the launch of two new state-of-the-art pilot labs — the Staple Nonwovens Lab, in 2008, and the Meltblown Lab, in 2010 — in addition to what’s today known as the Spunbond and Hydroentangling Lab, which first opened in 2002.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — January 13, 2026 — Heimtextil opens the new season with 3,000 exhibitors from 66 countries – maintaining stability while becoming even more international. The new hall layout increases visibility and connects supply and demand even more efficiently. At the opening, architect and designer Patricia Urquiola and Rosa Bertoli, Global Design Director of Wallpaper magazine, talk about AI, innovative materials and future-oriented design for modern living environments.
With 3,000 exhibitors from 66 countries, Heimtextil sets the course for the new season. In 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles as well as textile design records increased internationality among exhibitors. It is a knowledge hub and central platform for future-oriented business contacts. The product range spans textile and non-textile interior design solutions – from decorative and upholstery fabrics, bed linen, terry towelling and wallpaper to carpets. A new hall layout provides greater market overview and enables more efficient networking of supply and demand.
The market environment is shaped by economic and geopolitical upheavals. These present companies with new challenges and require adapted business strategies. At the same time, AI is rapidly transforming business models. Heimtextil provides the industry with orientation. It highlights new potential and makes it tangible with best practices and expert knowledge.
“In a dynamic market environment, the global textile industry relies on Heimtextil. We are delighted that the mattress and carpet industries have also chosen Frankfurt as their business hub. While AI is transforming markets, Heimtextil shows how companies can benefit from this technology. As a strategic partner, it highlights business opportunities and future prospects, laying the foundation for potential growth”, says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.
Patricia Urquiola: AI and new materials for the interior design of tomorrow
Photo — Messe Frankfurt / Pietro Sutera
At the opening press conference, designer and architect Patricia Urquiola presents her new design installation ‘among-all’. In conversation with Rosa Bertoli, Global Design Director of Wallpaper magazine, she explains which materials, designs and technologies are shaping the future of interior design. Patricia Urquiola has developed an immersive design world exclusively for Heimtextil. It illustrates the interior design of tomorrow for visitors – with futuristic spacial elements such as hybrid sculptures, inflated figures and hanging grid structures. Visitors are invited to actively shape the space. Their movements become part of the staging through AI. Patricia Urquiola shows how textiles function as transformative and intelligent materials. They form an interface between people, materials and machines.
“I’m very happy to continue this collaboration with Heimtextil for a second year. ‘among-all’ is the second chapter of our research on textiles, developed through objects, processes, and spatial experimentation. Rather than a container, the exhibition takes the form of a temporary ecosystem bringing together installations made from regenerated nylon, textile waste, and bio-based materials”, explains Patricia Urquiola.
Heimtextil 2026: Knowledge hub and market overview with new hall layout
The new hall layout makes it even easier for visitors to find relevant offerings across 17 hall levels. Complementary product segments are located in close proximity to each other for a more efficient trade fair visit. For example, Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1 are the central hub for textile and non-textile interior design. And the Bed, Bath & Living area is located in Halls 5.0, 5.1, 6.0 and 6.1, right next to Smart Bedding in Hall 4.0. This enables short distances for bedding retailers, hospitality, contract business and specialist retailers.
The new hub of the Smart Bedding segment is the Sleep & Meet area in Hall 4.0. It serves as the central meeting point for the mattress and sleep industry. Alongside leading brands, the German Mattress Industry Association (Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie e.V.) is also represented here.
Visitors can find the latest expert knowledge and networking opportunities at the Texpertise Stage in Hall 6.0, the Talk Spot in Hall 3.1 and in Hall 12.0. At the Texpertise Stage, Patricia Urquiola and AI visionary Tim Fu, among other experts, are sharing their knowledge. The Talk Spot in Hall 3.1 is aimed at interior design, architecture and the hospitality industry. The focus here is on professional exchange on functional contract textiles. It is also the starting point for numerous Talks & Tours. The Talk Spot in the Future Floor area in Hall 12.0 offers customised content formats specifically for the flooring and carpet industry.
Carpets & Rugs is expanding to a total of four hall levels in Halls 11.0, 12.0, 12.1 and 3.0. In addition to the established market leaders in the field of machine-made and hand-woven carpets, Carpets & Rugs 2026 offers an exclusive range of high-quality unique pieces. For the first time, the segment is supplemented with non-textile floor coverings.
One highlight is the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 in Hall 6.1. In the Trend Arena, the platform Alcova shows how AI and traditional craftsmanship complement each other under the motto ‘Craft is a verb’. They impressively showcase progressive ideas, materials and technologies.
Heimtextil 2026 takes place from 13 to 16 January 2026.
CLOVER, S.C. — January 16, 2026 — Clover Knits, Inc. (CK), a trusted, family-owned supplier of 100% Made in the USA quality knit fabrics for more than four decades, announces the appointment of textile industry veteran Stacey Bridges to the newly created position of Vice President of Sales and Operations.
