Order #: T1824_2007TX; US$ 1675.00
Published by YarnsandFibers; Nov 2007; 39 Pages
Available in Electronic Format or Hard copy

Home textiles play an important role in the comfort, protection and decoration of furnishings in the home. Although fashions have changed, the styles and fabrics used several hundred years ago still have a distinct influence on those used in the modern home today. There have been a number of significant developments in home textiles over recent years. The global market offers consumers a broader range of fibre combinations, fabrics, designs, textures and colours than it did in the 1990s.

Manufacturers have successfully adapted performance apparel technologies for use in home textile products. For example, bed sheets are being made from Coolmax and Thermolite fabrics. Coolmax fabric incorporates a moisture management technology and has traditionally been used in active performance wear. Thermolite is a lightweight insulation material which was originally designed for outdoor performance apparel. Home textiles are also being made from various functional materials, including Lycra stretch fabric, thermally adaptive bedding, environmentally-friendly textiles, antimicrobial fabrics, stain protective treatments, flame retardant materials and fragrance encapsulating technologies.

In this report, the following home textile product categories are examined:

• Bed linen
• Bedspreads
• Blankets
• Curtains
• Floor-cloths, dish-cloths, dusters & sim. cleaning cloths
• Table linen
• Textile furnishing, and
• Toilet linen & kitchen linen

SUPPLY OF HOME TEXTILES

The majority of home textiles are produced in Asia, where manufacturers specialise in lower priced, high volume products. Low cost manufacturing will lead to a surge in exports from China and India. China and India enjoy a dominant position in global trade in home textiles. Moreover, it has been projected by several experts in the industry that low cost manufacturing will pave the way for a surge in exports from these two countries between 2006 and 2011.