Koelnmesse, Inc. has announced the expansion of the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival (FFCF) with a second edition launching in Houston, Texas, in autumn 2027, growing the consumer festival from a single flagship event in Rosemont, Illinois, into a multi-city platform for the fibre, fabric, and craft community. The Houston edition will run alongside Koelnmesse's h+h americas Fall Edition, and additional U.S. markets are planned as Koelnmesse continues to grow the platform.
Posted: 8 October 2026
h+h americas Fall Edition 2026 officially concluded today at Reliant Center in Houston, bringing together creative industry professionals, suppliers, retailers, designers, educators, creators, and business owners for the inaugural autumn edition of the h+h americas platform. Held 30th September to 2nd October, the new Fall Edition introduced an additional annual B2B marketplace designed to connect the creative supply chain during an important time of year for business planning, product discovery, and preparation for the autumn and holiday selling season.
Posted: 6 October 2026
With around six months to go before the event, h+h cologne 2027 is seeing exceptionally strong demand. More than 85 percent of the exhibition space has been reserved. Those on board include well-known industry names as well as companies exhibiting at h+h cologne for the first time. Over 200 companies have confirmed their participation in h+h cologne, taking place in Cologne from 2 to 4 April 2027.
Posted: 28 September 2026
Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Paperworld Middle East, the region's leading international trade platform for paper and stationery products, has announced the postponement of the upcoming edition. Originally scheduled for 13–15 October 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will now take place from 28-30 September 2027. The decision follows extensive discussions with the industry and careful assessment of the challenges currently facing the paper and stationery industry, including constraints around production lead times and issues across freight and logistics.
Posted: 16 September 2026
Autumn Fair 2026 closed following four days of buying, discovery and networking at the NEC Birmingham, with feedback from retailers and exhibitors highlighting a more cross-category approach to sourcing, growing demand for distinctive and story-led products, and the continued importance of face-to-face relationships in retail.Across Gift, Home, Fashion and the newly co-located Glee, buyers from leading retailers including John Lewis, TJX Europe, Fenwick, NEXT, IKEA, Argos, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, The Range, Mamas & Papas, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, Natural History Museum, British Museum, ZSL, Royal Shakespeare Company, Hobbycraft, Scribbler, Paper Tiger, Joules, Mountain Warehouse, QVC and Amazon, alongside a broad mix of independent retailers, garden centres, visitor attractions and specialist stores, have used the show to discover new products, meet existing and potential suppliers and identify opportunities beyond their traditional buying categories, with the combined event creating new crossover between home, garden, gift, fashion and lifestyle.
Posted: 15 September 2026
The Home & Gift Association has met with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to discuss growth, exports, regulation and support for small businesses across the UK's home and gift sector.
Representing around 400 suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and service providers, the Association highlighted the pressures facing businesses, including rising costs, export barriers and increasing regulatory requirements.
A key focus of the meeting was international growth, with DBT outlining opportunities for UK businesses through partnerships with major online marketplaces in regions including Latin America and the Middle East. The Association welcomed further collaboration to help members access new customers and export markets.
Posted: 14 September 2026
UK Hand Knitting (UKHK), the leading organisation championing yarn crafts across the country, has announced the launch of its first comprehensive consumer research study into the UK knitting and crochet market. This landmark project will deliver unprecedented insight into how today's makers discover, purchase, and engage with yarn and craft products. The full research findings will be published later this year, with a detailed report available to all UK Hand Knitting premium subscribing shops.
Posted: 9 September 2026
The Luxury Fabric Show, whose exhibitors are all British suppliers offering low minimums, is launching a series of expert briefings during its autumn event next month (14-15 October at The Box Office Studio in Shoreditch, London). The exhibition presents a tightly curated collection of the best suppliers of silk, wool, lace, jacquards, linings, buttons, labels, workshop essentials and more aimed at the fashion, bridalwear, lingerie, interiors and costume making sectors.
Posted: 9 September 2026
Sustainability, value, innovation and the growing crossover between stationery, gifting and lifestyle are among the key trends shaping the industry, according to exhibitors at Paperworld Middle East 2026.
With buyers facing continued pressure on prices, materials and supply chains, manufacturers are increasingly focused on delivering products that combine quality, design, reliability and value.
Sustainability is also moving from a key point of differentiation to an expected part of product development. Kartik Gopal, AVP – International Business at Hindustan Pencils, says buyers are increasingly looking for responsibly sourced wood, recycled plastics and non-toxic materials, while manufacturers continue to navigate fluctuating raw material costs.
Posted: 7 September 2026
Sustainability, pressure on prices and supply, and a growing crossover between stationery, gifting, and lifestyle products are emerging as key factors shaping the international paper and stationery industry, according to exhibitors participating in Paperworld Middle East 2026 taking place from 13-15 October at Dubai World Trade Centre. The insights point to a market where manufacturers are increasingly balancing competitive pricing with growing expectations around materials, supply reliability, design and product differentiation. From a sustainability perspective, purchasing decisions are shifting, with buyers placing more importance on responsible sourcing, recycled materials, and waste reduction alongside price, quality, and performance.
Posted: 1 September 2026