There have been a number of significant developments in home textiles over recent years.
The global market offers consumers a broader range of fibre combinations, fabrics, designs, textures and colours than it did in the 1990s.
Manufacturers have successfully adapted performance apparel technologies for use in home textile products.
For example, bed sheets are being made from Coolmax and Thermolite fabrics.
Coolmax fabric incorporates a moisture management technology and has traditionally been used in active performance wear.
Thermolite is a lightweight insulation material which was originally designed for outdoor performance apparel.
Home textiles are also being made from various functional materials, including Lycra stretch fabric, thermally adaptive bedding, environmentally-friendly textiles, anti-microbial fabrics, stain protective treatments, flame retardant materials and fragrance encapsulating technologies.
The market for home textiles has weathered competition from lower cost countries.
Although traditional manufacturers have been forced to cut their prices, the value of the EU25 market remained at around Euro26 bn between 1998 and 2003.
Demand in developed economies has been driven by three market factors.
First, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in September 2001 may have encouraged people to spend more of their free time in their homes.
Second, dedicated interior design programmes being shown on prime-time television are stimulating home owners to invest in their homes.
Third, greater awareness of the triggers of asthma and allergies is fuelling demand for new anti-microbial home textiles.