The home décor influenced industry consists of many staple products with insurmountable everyday demands, for example, curtains, bedspreads, duvets, pillows, etc. But it also includes the market for kitchen-related tableware and table linen products, and for good reason with the ever-expanding and beautiful variety of table linens and linens that includes tablecloths, table runners, napkins, tablecloths, aprons, and mitts. And currently, this kitchen-related bedding contributes 5-10% of the industry’s total sales worldwide. And in an attempt to meet these increasing demands from the US and Europe, exporters continue to experiment and implement new ideas and techniques to acquire a more fashion-oriented design that appeals to international buyers.

The abundance and properties of cotton make it the most popular material used to make these products. But of late, linen has also gained fierce approval as the new fabric of choice for most of these products, especially in the quality part of the market. The main value of flax is its environmental production attribute, as it uses 5 to 20 times less energy and water than any other production of natural and synthetic materials. Silk is not used especially for base fabrics for kitchen products, due to its susceptibility to burning easily, and it is much more expensive than other fabrics. And although cotton is still very popular and in very constant demand, many buyers still prefer polyester fabrics, cotton-linen blends, organza and polyester weaves have been considered appropriate fabrics for kitchen and table linens.

Customer preferences for complete kitchen and table linen designs change with the change of seasons or the proximity of festivals. While red, blue, orange, and pastels are great for summer, darker colors like black, brown, gray, and everything in between on the grayscale are great for winter. White is rarely used as a complete color scheme for kitchen accessories, because it gets dirty and dirty easily, but instead it is more likely to be used as a base or mixed with various colors for interesting motifs.

The constant demand for table linens and seasoned kitchen linens fuels the American trend of outsourcing large quantities of the same style and color, but many European countries have a demand for table linens in various colors and designs in much smaller quantities.

Bedding designs vary from product to product and depend on its purpose and use. New design trends are taking hold and increasing the appeal of these linens; Multicolored bold stripes, lace borders, sequins, appliqués and beads on tablecloths and napkins, embroidery, prints, patchwork and painting can be seen on napkins, runners and tablecloths.

Prices for table linens and kitchen linens are usually moderate and affordable for the average citizen, but the price varies depending on the purpose, style/design, and use. Average kitchen and table linen costs based on techniques and crafts can range from 65 cents to $20.

Products – Indian Techniques

For the export of large quantities of kitchen, table and more or less any type of household items, the US and Europe look to India as the preferred textile destination for their products. But India’s booming textile trade is always under intense competition from its neighbor China, but is still ahead of the race due to easy availability of raw materials, labor and production capabilities. India creates the most fascinating varieties of home textiles because they include their rich culture in the designs. The Indian home furnishings industry offers an impressive array of curtains, bedspreads, bedding, cushion covers, placemats, kitchen accessories, tablecloths, toiletries, bathroom linens, and many other home accessories.

The industry itself accounts for 14% of the countries’ total industrial production and accounts for around 30% of total exports. With extensive improvements at each stage of production, it makes a very important contribution to the economy. And the industry is totally export oriented and generates foreign income for the country as well as employing a large number of people at reasonable wages.

square tablecloths/tablecloths

Beautifully crafted in cotton and linen, the placemats are made to suit all kinds of needs. Variations may be seen in the weave, texture, material, and shapes of the placemats. Many exporters use jute, straw, linen or even plastic mats. Linen and cotton rugs with decorative weaves or embellished with appliqué embroidery or cording in unique color combinations attract many buyers. Jute tablecloths have a good market, are easy to use and buyers find the natural golden color of jute quite attractive. Rugs highlighted with colored threads are very popular in India.

Straw mats are where artisans play with different thicknesses of straw to give different rhythms of texture. Threads and straws of different colors are used to embellish and give elegance to the rugs. They have a plethora of interesting patterns including paisley, floral, geometric, and abstract prints. Solid colors, patchwork, and light embroidery on placemats are also visible in many export houses.

napkins

Linen and cotton are the preferred materials for napkins as they are durable and absorbent and can be boiled clean to ensure hygiene. They can also accept large amounts of heat, for example, when ironing and withstand sunlight. Indian created napkins are usually embroidered, printed and painted to give a custom look and handcrafted charm.

Floral, animal and geometric designs are the common motifs as the print/paint is placed in various places on the napkins to aid in the different ways of folding and accentuating the pattern.

napkin rings

Indian designs use lots of nice colors to make beautiful napkin rings that are very traditional and less formal looking. Designers keep experimenting with the many appearances of Napkin Rings to attract new customers to the market.

Buyers want more clean lines and visually appealing styles in napkin rings with subtle elements of conventional Indian appeal. Soft lucid tones and distinctive designs are also very popular in rings.

Napkin rings are used to embellish the style and presence of the napkin on the table, and the most used materials for the manufacture of napkin rings are glass, ceramic, stone, wood, polyresin, brass, bone and the aluminum.

table runners

Indian table runners are made from linen, satin, cotton and straw. Linen and cotton runners are mostly embroidered with delicate and superior patterns along the edges, along the length of the fabric, or with bright patterns in the corners. They have lots of hand painted abstract shapes and animal figurine themes that are a must have these days. Assam table runner straw weavers are famous for their traditional patterns while West Bengal is renowned for its high quality jute table runners.

Table runners that have been customized to individual requirements are decorated with tassels, gold/silver threads, fringes, beads, etc. They can also be hand-knotted or woven, as desired by the buyer.

Tablecloths/Covers

Tablecloths are often embellished with modest amounts of beading, hand/machine embroidery, and appliqués. The bedding is well suited to embroidery, which is used more for occasions, and the bedding can be easily dyed and does not fade when washed. They are made in both contemporary and conventional Indian designs as handmade tablecloths are quite established among long time buyers.

aprons

Indian aprons are skillfully created using linen and cotton, which are absorbent and strong. While the overly decorated linen apron has repeatedly passed in and out of consumer popularity, the current momentum has been noted to have brought it back into fashion. But cotton-based aprons have remained a staple choice for many years and are still largely outsourced in India.

mittens

Mitts are a very important accessory for every kitchen and can also be had in a myriad of patterns and designs, but with a variety of textures and distinctive qualities. And with bold prints and crisp colors, the mittens are also available in a variety of types, including hand-knitted, embroidered, hand-painted, and machine-printed designs.

cup holder

The purpose of the coasters is to prevent table finishes from being damaged by the heat and cold of the products. Indian made coasters can come in a multitude of designs; hand woven, embroidered, hand painted and machine stamped coasters. And they also come in many varied forms such as; square, triangular, rectangular, circular and oblong, highly demanded in the international market.

Conclusion

Western demand for table linens and kitchen linens will always be driven by the ongoing production of the Indian market, with all tastes to be satisfied.