For the next few days I'll be blogging from Frankfurt, Hannover and Cologne as the European interiors trade show season gets into full swing. Today: Heimtextil day one.

The 'German Week' got underway today as Heimtextil opened in Frankfurt. Initial impressions are that the focus of products is on better quality, rather than a race to the bottom; companies are emphasising their green credentials more and more and visitor numbers are lower, although this could of course have simply been the halls I was in.

According to research for the show's organiser, German households spent about €225 on household textiles, such as curtains and bed linen, in 2010 – a major increase on 2009 as they switched to buying better less frequently and cocooning kicked in.

Manufacturers seem to have noticed this, adding details such as embroidery to add value, for example.

While today's halls seemed quieter than 2011, there were still plenty of people on the seemingly endless escalators and travelators that (eventually) link the halls and there were lots of British accents to be heard.

The number of exhibitors is at a record level of more than 2,200 but this doesn't mean the halls are filled wall to wall, just that in some halls there are lots and lots of very small stands – which means there is more to see.

Pictured is Prestigious Textiles' Art and Soul.

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