Textilhogar returns to Valencia this Tuesday, resuming a long-running tradition after a two-year pause caused by the pressures of recent years and the disruptions from the pandemic in Madrid. The event is expected to draw buyers from 44 countries and showcase 82 exhibitors, creating a dense hub that highlights the breadth of the regional and national textile sector. A notable share of the exhibitors come from provincial districts such as Alcoià, El Comtat, and Vall d’Albaida, underscoring the fair’s commitment to a wide geographic representation and to the local supply chain as well as the international marketplace.
Set within a moment of heightened sensitivity for the industry, the Habitat fair gathers companies spanning furniture, lighting, interior design, and kitchen sectors. The gathering aims to illuminate how these adjacent industries reinforce one another, driving innovation and tangible business opportunities for designers, manufacturers, and retailers alike.
The event’s opening was attended by senior regional leaders who underscored the government’s support for the sector. The Minister of Economy, Rafael Climent, along with the Valencia mayor, Rafael Ribó, and Pilar Bernabé, the Government’s representative in the community, joined Daniel Marco, the Habitat director, in presenting the fair as a cornerstone for economic activity and regional branding. Their presence signaled a clear message that the event matters beyond the trade floor, linking local policy with export ambitions and industry resilience.
Climent highlighted the department’s efforts to attract international buyers through reciprocal business visits and targeted assignments, a strategy designed to position the Valencian textile cluster at the center of global supply chains. Daniel Marco pointed out that Habitat has secured the largest exhibition bid in the last decade, timing that coincides with an intense competitive landscape and a notable recovery in participation compared with pre-pandemic years. He emphasized the goal of preserving a scale that resonates with 2019, signaling a commitment to a robust and visible marketplace for thousands of participants from across the sector.
Pepe Serna, president of the Valencia Community Ateval Textile Entrepreneurs Association, voiced optimism about the fair’s potential to catalyze commercial activity across a sector facing energy cost pressures. He noted that rising electricity prices are prompting several companies to carefully review operations, with some considering employment adjustments to adapt to the new cost structure. Yet he stressed that the fair offers a timely platform to discuss solutions, share best practices, and showcase products that blend design sensibility with efficient production methods. The conversations at Textilhogar and Habitat are framed as the seedbed for short- and medium-term deals, supplier partnerships, and collaborative projects that can weather the current economic stresses and accelerate growth for the regional industry.