HGH India 2018 – India’s largest tradeshow for home textiles, home décor, housewares and gifts that are designed exclusive for professional and trade visitors – highlighted the latest forecast trends in home fashion and lifestyle at a media met in Mumbai yesterday.
Arun Roongta, Managing Director, HGH India, said “Today’s women are seeking uniqueness in décor that could include a “frying pan matching the color of the kitchen” or dinner sets matching the curtains.” Today’s market is changing to adapt to such needs — where Yesterday’s spoon made of either steel, wood or plastic, today comprises all three elements in fancy designs of the lifestyle industry. This trend is happening globally and India’s 1.3 billion population must get an opportunity to access it through this show.”
“HGH has been aptly timed at the beginning of the sourcing season for the Indian market as high-quality, number of visitors and exhibitors grow consistently. HGH India 2017 attracted 30,700 high potential retailers and trade buyers from 462 cities and towns across India, indicating a 22% increase over 2016 as 500 manufacturers and brands from 30 countries showcased their products, making it the largest trade show for home category in the Indian market. Over 80% of exhibitors and 90% of visitors return year after year, reflecting this trade show’s importance for both sellers and buyers,” Roongta said.
Geert Bottger, Director, HGH India, said the Home Show market is concentrating on the young generation that has rising income coupled with growing expectations. “We wanted to highlight the potential of this market through our annual trade show of home textiles, home décor, houseware and gifts to consumers, retail systems and manufacturers,” he said, adding that HGH India 2018 – from July 3 to July 5 — will witness over 500 Indian and international brands, manufacturers from 30 countries and importers exhibiting their innovations and new collections to Indian retailers, importers, distributors and trade buyers, interior designers and gift trade across India.
HGH India’s Trend Book 2018-19 was launched here with design elements for the Indian market in four groups: So Funky At Home, Soft Shades of Nature, Collectors Chamber and +Smart Bohemians.+ Ms. Babette Permantier and Ms. Petra Sahm, Designers and Consultants team from Germany, highlighted its trendy products while showcasing the designing trend forecasting for the Indian market exclusively.
“India has one of the youngest populations in the world with 65% of its 1.3 billion people below age of 30 years whose lifestyle, taste and preferences largely influence the market due to their being educated, extrovert, technology-savvy, financially affluent and influenced by high international and social media exposure,” they said, adding “With recent economic and political advances, India is emerging stronger on the global map and boosting the confidence of its people to adapt to social international lifestyle, while retaining their social and cultural heritage.”
So Funky At Home trend is a dynamic and optimistic trend, gritty and upbeat that is open for the patchwork of life in which the young trend is dynamic, optimistic, witty with a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ (DIY) approach to young living spaces, where they even build their own furniture and even exchange ideas globally.”
Soft Shades of Nature trend highlights ‘embracing’ the fresh and virgin morning light – shining through the waving leaves of a protecting tree — into a soft light-flooded room for an atmosphere of privacy and spa amidst gentle colours.
The Collectors Chamber trend hints at drama and eccentricity in highlighting ‘flora and fauna’ (since experts say over 20% of the world’s plants are dying out), while highlighting the collector’s experience of luxurious moments and relaxation that include a cabinet showcasing collected objects from all over the world, modern and geometric patterns showing opulent floral ornaments and textured fabrics in sand and pale green.
Smart Bohemians” trend represents the Scandinavian comfortable and smart lifestyle displaying color varieties as ‘chic’ and cool. There is also a growing trend in fancy sports and fitness accessories, besides greenery and flowers in interiors, colours playing a role of creating an “Oasis” of peace and tranquility, ‘minimal’ and ‘abstract’ designs being seen, and even a ‘bathroom’ becoming more than a ‘washroom.”
“Has Indian home fashion evolved?” Govind Shrikhande. MD, Shoppers Stop Ltd, queried while stating “Movies have inspired home fashion and décor, while attraction for gadgets come from global usage. Global trends are coming to India, but are Indian trends being taken globally?”
