Craft is a verb: Alcova’s exciting 26/27 trend forecast for Heimtextil  

The upcoming Heimtextil event in January 2026 will feature a Textile Trends 26/27 display by Alcova

Every year the Trends display at Heimtextil is an inspiring resource for designers, retailers and lovers of textiles. Last year the installation was undertaken by the design experts at Alcova, a company who organise events during Milan Design Week. For next January, Alcova returns to Heimtextil for Textile Trends 26/27 with a display titled ‘Craft is a verb’, which will take place in Hall 6.1.

The installation will be looking at how within design, high-tech and craftsmanship are not contradictory, but rather together open up new creative perspectives. Textiles are really at the point where craftsmanship and digital technology meet and Alcova have selected textiles that feature glitch-like motifs—seen in the kilim design of Stefania Ruggiero (below)—pixelated colour gradients, and digitally distorted hand drawings.

The Alcova display will include design in which AI code and tradition are intertwined, for example, digitally embroidered linens and 3D-knitted patchworks. They will also look at how tech translates nature in a different way, so the surface of the sea is becomes a grid or lichen structures on rocks are algorithmically converted into decorative motifs.

Alcova has also created its own colour palette. It oscillates between the earthy groundedness of tones like sane, clay olive and soot, which are interrupted synthetic accents such as acidic green, digital lilac, or vibrant screen blue.

Heimtextil 2026 is on 13-16 January, at tFrenkfurt Messe.