Textile Designer Cenk Mommarje Shared His Thoughts on Home Textiles and HOMETEX
1. What will we see in home textile trends next season?
It is fair to say that we are going through a period of great change. We can define it more as a "change of consciousness". Sensitivity to nature and the environment is at the top of our agenda.
We can talk about this change in consciousness for companies that produce in all geographies, especially those that produce textiles. For designers, this issue has also turned into a sensitivity issue that is paid special attention to.
The world is going through a new sensitivity process. Using the resources we have correctly; protecting the air, water and all resources without polluting them is the main topic of the agenda. It appears that in the Heimtextil 2024/25 trends, and even in the 2026 presentations, it is evident that bioengineering marvels are on the agenda.
Future trends show that bioengineering wonders are on the agenda. Avocado seeds, fibers obtained from banana peels, colors obtained from living bacteria, even traditional and antic pigments that have been used for centuries, raw sienna red, brown and earth tones and bio-engineered indigo and red colors will be reflected in the collections.
In addition to cotton, linen, tencel, bamboo and silk fabrics currently used in clothing and home textiles, voluminous textures draw attention. Surfaces obtained with the use of mix and match of different yarns will be frequently seen in home textiles.
Natural colors, a neutral look and even colorlessness are at the forefront of the color palettes. Gray tones, terra colors and dark purple values will also be seen. One of the surprise colors of the season is lemon mold and we will see lemon tones frequently in the summer of 2024.
We will suspend talking about patterns and design for a while and talk about innovative fibers and the surfaces we create with them.
While cultures are mixing and talking, we will also see ethnic designs taking place in the market intensively.
My personal opinion is that designs made with fine workmanship and quality fabrics where labor is at the forefront, aesthetic concerns increase, sewing techniques are used intensively will be preferred in the sector.
2. Considering Turkey's position in home textiles, what do you think is the most valuable feature that distinguishes it from its competitors in the world?
The Turkish home textile sector is distinguished from its competitors in the world with its design power, production quality and of course its logistics position in the world. Our country is gradually falling behind in this race due to increasing cost figures and raw material supply problems. For example, with the increase in yarn prices, orders for towels and bathrobes are shifting to Pakistan, and similar situations are being experienced for fabric production. This is gradually turning into a situation that can be solved by the country's state policy, and the quality of design is declining as manufacturers become scared of this situation...
3. What are the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of designing home textiles?
I have been in the world of design for as long as I can remember, and it is impossible for a person not to be happy if he is doing a job that he has been trained and loves very much. Home is the castle of man. I chose to be someone who makes that castle safe and peaceful, who beautifies it with his designs, and I dedicated my life to the home textile industry. It is a great happiness for a designer to beautify someone's life, to be a secret part of that peace.
The biggest challenge is to change something because it is a sector where the usual patterns and prejudices are very prominent. Preparing the company owner, the production line and even the consumer for the change can be really tiring and exhausting processes for a designer.
Another problem is that developing a design requires serious costs. You can sew a skirt from 50 cm fabric, but you can only design a bedding set with 8-10 meters of fabric. Home textiles is one of the interesting topics in the textile industry. You design a wedding dress and it is talked about for months, but no one talks about a magnificent duvet cover set. Nobody praises you for loving a bathrobe, and the tablecloth on an elegant table is hardly mentioned. In short, it may not be the right sector for a designer who wants to be popular. Why am I saying this, many young people who study design dream of becoming a very popular person three days after graduating from school, but when the sector and the conditions of the sector do not provide these, they resent the profession, their work and the sector. Sometimes it may be necessary to take a step back. I think this is also useful to know.
4. As a designer, what made you choose home textiles in particular?
I am a homebody. I think loving the house and the feeling of home led me to this sector. Designing textile products related to the home has always been good for me and since the day I entered the sector, I have been known as someone who brings innovations to the sector.
I have to confess something, I think the feeling of "being a hidden hero" in us designers has been one of the most important forces driving me. The feeling of being that hidden power in people's happiness, in the success and earnings of the company you work for gives you great pleasure and makes you do your job with ambition and joy.
5. Which feature of the HOMETEX fair makes it stand out among other fairs?
I have been a participant of the HOMETEX fair organized in Turkey since the first day, I have been talking excitedly in the corridors of that fair for tens of years, I have set up stands and prepared collections many times until the morning. I think the most important feature of HOMETEX is that it is organized in Istanbul, where human relations are warm, innovations are exhibited collectively, the world's 2nd largest home textile fair, since it is a sector for the castle we call "home".
6. What do you think are the important points that would inspire young designers, and what would your recommendations be for aspiring young designers?
I am a person who thinks that everyone involved in design should have a large archive. A designer should equip himself/herself so that he/she can produce. They should travel a lot, take photos, follow and archive fashion and design decoration magazines. Nowadays, it is easy to access information, it is necessary to follow what is new in the world and in one's own sector. The most important warning I can give to young people is to be patient, because the production process is always challenging and patience is a good teacher and a designer should always have the courage to defend what they believe in along with patience. A designer has no concept of time and working hours, his mind is always working.
