Success for h+h cologne 2025

Posted by Rachel Westall on 11 March 2025

h+h cologne 2025 proved once again from 7th to 9th March why it is the central trade fair highlight of the textile handicraft industry. After three successful trade fair days around 300 exhibitors from 39 countries are looking back on an impressive event full of innovations, exchange and inspiration, but also successful business deals. Sustainability was a central theme this year: Fabrics made from algae or mushrooms and modern production techniques that were exhibited in the Green Zone underlined the industry's creative power.

busy trade fair aisles The extensive event and workshop programme with the main topics 'Trends & Innovation', 'Marketing & Technology' and 'Business Development & Sustainability', was greeted with enthusiasm by the participants. Under the top theme 'Local Retail: Creating the Future', the trade fair was devoted to the future of the local retail trade. It offered the trade visitors valuable ideas and strategies for the sustainable reinforcement of their businesses, because they're battling with a difficult market environment. The exhibitors look back on the event very positively in spite of the hurdles the retail trade is faced with and described it as a pioneering prelude to the industry upturn.

"With its focus on the local retail trade, h+h cologne is sending out a clear signal regarding how the industry has to actively and sustainably position itself in order to remain future-proof. It demonstrated once again in 2025 that it is not only a place for market innovations, but also an established knowledge, networking and business platform for the entire textile handicraft industry," commented Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer, Koelnmesse.

two ladies talking next to sewing machine "Even if handicrafts have established themselves as a fixed hobby, especially among young people, local retailers in particular are facing macroeconomic challenges such as consumer restraint, as evidenced by our recently published market figures. The very good result of 11.500 trade visitors this year underlines all the more how important it is that this year's h+h cologne has set impulses for the long-term success of the industry," stated Hedi Ehlen, CEO of Initiative Handarbeit.

h+h cologne 2025 at a glance:
11.500 trade visitors from 79 countries with a foreign share of 41%
Biggest growth from the USA and Poland
The biggest international groups of visitors came from the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.
Around 300 exhibitors from 39 countries with a foreign share of 78%
Two new zones focusing on sustainable concepts & innovations

The Initiative Handarbeit has published the current market figures of the handicraft industry on its website: Market figures 2024

Next events:

h+h americas – May 7 - 9, 2025 – Chicago, USA
h+h cologne – March 20 - 22, 2026 – Cologne, Germany
Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival – May 1 - 3, 2026 – Chicago, USA

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