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Summary and extracts

1 Market Overview

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

The household linen market includes all textile products intended for home furnishing and care. It is mainly divided into two areas: unpacked lin ens (meter and bundle fabrics) and packaged linens, intended directly for the end consumer. The latter represents the dominant share of the market and includes items for the bedroom (sheets, pillowcases, quilts), bathroom (towels, bathrobes), kitchen (tea towels, aprons, tablecloths) and decoration (curtains, upholstery fabrics). The sector caters both to the domestic sphere and, with its own dynamics, to the "contract" channel (hotels, hospitals, restaurants), although the study focuses exclusively on the consumer market.

Globally, the sum of the bed, kitchen and bath segments reached $119.04 billion in 2022 and will grow to $182.94 billion in 2028 (+53.7 percent, CAGR 7.4 percent). Bedding alone will be worth 172.01 billion in 2030 (+7.6% annually), kitchen 18.2 billion in 2031 (+5%), and bath 18.57 billion in 2028 (+8.3%). In Europe, the value of bath and bed linen will grow from 20.6 billion in 2025 to 23.88 billion in 2030 (+15.9%), while that of table linen will increase from 12.51 billion in 2024 to 17.72 billion in 2031 (+41.6%). In Italy, retail sales of home textiles will grow from 1,240.2 million in 2023 to 1,378.7 million in 2024. The production sold will touch 496.7 million in 2024, with bedding at 50.9 percent, bathroom textiles at 26.9 percent and kitchen textiles at 22.2 percent.

The structure of the industry has 2,193 manufacturing enterprises in 2024 (ATECO code 13.92.10) and 4,514 specialized outlets (ATECO code 47.51.11), employing a total of about 19,500 people. The majority of the entrepreneurial fabric consists of microenterprises and self-employed workers: 61.7 percent in production and 63.9 percent in distribution. The geographical concentration favors Northern and Central Italy, with a prevalence of artisan enterprises in the historical districts. The main Italian manufacturers include Caleffi (€304.9M), Tenacta Group (€92.3M), Gabel (€54.4M), while in distribution Zucchi (€75.6M), Frette (€55.6M) and Maisons du Monde (€176.9M) stand out.

The offering is broad and segmented by fabric type and intended use. Materials include cotton (standard and terry), linen, flannel, percale, jersey, bamboo and polyester, with a growing trend toward natural fibers and environmentally sustainable textiles. The "Agritessuti" movement promoted by Donne in Campo aims to revive hemp, linen and natural dyed plant fibers.

Prices vary widely by range and brand: a set of double sheets ranges from €12 (IKEA) to €399 (Zara Home); bathrobes from €12 to €139; tablecloths from €3.95 to €299. The consumer price index for home textiles rose from 109.5 to 110.6 between early 2024 and March 2025, while the producer price index fell from 112.2 to 110.3 over the same period.

On the trade front, the import-export balance is structurally negative: in 2024, imports are worth 618.6 million and exports 281.9 million, with a coverage rate of 45.6 percent. The main suppliers are Pakistan (35.2%), Turkey (13.9%) and China (10.6%), while the main buyers of Italian exports are the United States (24.7%), France (20.9%) and Germany (5.9%).

The market is underpinned by trends in personalization, home living and sustainability, and benefits from the link with the recovery of the real estate market (+35.6 percent of purchases and sales between 2020 and 2024) and home furnishings (value 2028: €18.5 billion in Italy).

1.2 A growing global market

In order to analyze the overall market for household linens, the markets for bedroom, kitchen and bathroom linens are considered. In addition, the market related to the fabrics used to make household linen is also analyzed by assuming a correlation between the first three markets and the latter.

Bedroom

In the global market for bedroom linens has reached a value of $**.** billion. Between **** and ****, the industry is expected to grow considerably at a compound annual rate of *.* percent. In ****, the market could reach a value of $***.** billion.

Global bedroom linen market World, ****-****, billion dollars Grandviewresearch

Kitchen

In ****, the global kitchen linen market is estimated to be worth $**.* billion. A compound annual growth rate of *.* percent is projected for ****-****, which will result in the market reaching a value of $**.* billion. Global kitchen linen market World, ****-****, billion dollars Transparencymarketresearch Bathroom Finally, as for the bathroom linen segment, the global market will touch $**.** billion in ****. By **** the market is projected to grow to $*.** billion thanks to an annual growth rate of *.* percent. Thus, in **** the market could be worth $**.** billion. Global bathroom linen market World, ****-****, billion dollars Databridgemarketresearch The three markets just analyzed in **** reach a combined value of $***.** billion ...

1.3 The European market

the value of the European market for bath and bed linen shows moderate but steady growth over the period ****-****. It starts at **.* billion in ****, increasing to **.** billion in **** and **.* billion in ****. In ****, the market reaches **.** billion, followed by **.** billion in **** and finally **.** billion in ****. Overall, the increase between **** and **** is *.** billion, with an overall percentage growth of **.* percent

Value of the European market for bath and bed linen Europe,****-****,Billion euros Mordor Intelligence

The value of the European table linen market is expected to grow steadily between **** and ****. It starts at **.** billion euros in ****, rising to **.** billion in **** and **.** billion in ****. The trend continues with **.** billion in ****, **.** billion in ****, **.** billion in ****, to **.** billion in **** and **.** billion in ****. Overall, the market grows by *.** billion in seven years, an increase of **.* percent from the initial value in ****.

Value of the Table Linen Market Europe,****-****,Billion euros Cognitive Market Research

1.4 The Italian Market

In order to analyze data on the production sold and turnover of household linen products, the category under ATECO Code **.**.** is considered. The following are considered:

Blankets of wool, synthetic fibers and other textile materials; Bed linen made of knitted, cotton, linen, ramie and other textile fabrics and materials; Table linen made of cotton, linen, man-made and synthetic textile fibers and other woven or nonwoven fabrics (***) and other textile materials; Bath and kitchen linen made of terry towelling and similar fabrics of cotton terry towelling and other textiles.

Estimates for the years **** and **** in both graphs were obtained using Excel's PREVISION.LINEAR function. This function allows you to make a linear projection of a future value based on a historical data set. Production sold:

Between **** and ****, the production sold of bed, bedroom, and bath linens in Italy showed a fluctuating but overall growing trend. After ***.* million in **** and an increase to ***.* million in ****, a significant decline was observed in the following two years, with ***.* million in **** and ***.* million in ****. Starting in ****, however, the market rebounded sharply, with a jump to ***.* million, followed by further growth to ***.* million in **** and an estimated ***.* million in ****.

Production of bed, bedroom and bathroom linen sold Italy, ...

1.5 Import and Export

To analyze the state of international trade in household linen, we will use HS Code ****: bed, table, bath and kitchen linen.

Between **** and ****, Italy's foreign trade in household linen consistently recorded a negative balance, with imports always exceeding exports. In ****, imports reached ***.* million against exports of ***.* million, with a coverage rate of **.* percent. In ****, imports dropped to ***.* million, while exports stood at ***.* million (***). **** saw a further decline, with imports at ***.* million and exports at ***.* million, reducing the rate to **.* percent. **** saw a recovery on both fronts: ***.* million imports and ***.* million exports, a rate of **.* percent. In ****, both imports and exports reached the highest level for the period, ***.* and ***.* million respectively, with a coverage rate of **.* percent.

Imports, exports and coverage rate for household linen Italy, ****-****, in million euros and in % uN Comtrade

As one would expect when it comes to textiles, most of the household linen imported to Italy comes from Asian countries, such as Pakistan (***).

Breakdown of household linen imports, by main supplier countries Italy, ****, in % UN Comtrade

as for the main destination countries of Italian exports, we see the United States in a predominant position, being the recipient of **.* percent of total Italian exports of this product. The ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Demand characteristics

Compared to global consumers, Italians own more home textiles on average: ** bath towels (***). These numbers give us an idea of the importance of linens and home textiles in Italy.

This path has most likely been influenced by the emergence and growing popularity of home textiles supplied by large accessory and appliance companies such as IKEA and Leroy Merlin, which generally sell home textiles cheaper than specialty stores.

During ****-****, the average monthly expenditure of Italian households on home textile items (***) showed some fluctuations but an overall positive trend. It starts at *.* euros in ****, followed by a decline to *.* euros in **** and a slight recovery to *.* euros in ****. The low is reached in ****, with only *.* euros per month, probably due to pandemic-related restrictions and uncertainties. Starting in ****, a recovery is observed with *.** euros, followed by a slight decline in **** to *.** euros. In ****, the highest value for the period is recorded with an average monthly expenditure of *.** euros.

Average monthly household expenditure on household textile items (***) Italy, ****-****, in euros Source: ****

In general, the fact that Italians own more household textiles than the world average but spend less on these items is not necessarily contradictory. In fact, this country is world renowned for ...

2.2 Geographical distribution of demand

The map shows the geographical distribution of the average monthly expenditure on household textile items in Italy in ****, with detailed data shown in the corresponding table. The highest spending is in the Northeast, with an average of *.** euros, followed by the Center with *.** euros and the Northwest with *.** euros. In contrast, the southern and island regions have lower values: *.** euros in the Islands and *.** euros in the South. The coloring of the map reflects these differences, with darker shades associated with higher spending values and lighter colors in areas with lower spending.

2.3 The dynamics of the housing market

A determining factor in the demand for household linens is the evolution of the housing market and the dynamics of the furniture market in Italy. In fact, a family that invests in a house will tend to buy new furniture and consequently purchase new accessories such as table linen, kitchen linen, etc.From the graph below, we can see that the number of transactions in the residential real estate market in Italy has increased by **.* percent in the period between **** and ****, which is very positive for the home linen market.

Evolution of the number of transactions in the residential real estate market Italy, ****-****, in thousands of transaction numbers Source: ****

The home furnishings market in Italy is worth $**.* billion in ****. Between **** and **** it is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of * percent thanks to which the market will reach a value of $**.* billion.

Size of the furniture market by type Italy, ****, in billions of euros Source: ****

2.4 Home Living: the new trend behind home linens

We can sum up the concept of "Home Living" by defining it as a new way of furnishing the home, a new way of understanding and caring for it in every detail, following the rules of fashion and its trends.

After a long period when home care and home linens took a back seat, preferring mainly a very minimal and essential style, Italians are now rediscovering the taste for personalizing the home with styles that reflect tastes and identity.

Everyone, in fact, wants to give their home a personal connotation, using curtains, tablecloths, sheets and more that reflect their own style and concept of home design.

This stems from the fact that most Italians believe that the style of furniture they choose for their home environments not only reflects their personality, but also communicates something about them to the guests they welcome [***].

3 Market structure

3.1 Market value chain

United Nations Environment Source: ****

Active players in each stage of the textile value chain are depicted in the image above, from fiber to finished products to distribution and sales. The household linen and textile upholstery value chain is an adaptation of the textile and apparel value chain, characterized by textile components that appear in a variety of end markets, from building materials to air filters, from automotive fabrics to upholstered furniture.

The industry can thus be segmented in various ways, such as:

By fiber type (***); By fabric production process (***); By finishing process of the fabric (***); By end use (***).

3.2 The enterprises in the sector

For this aspect of the market, we consider data provided by ISTAT for activities registered under ATECO Code **.**.** "Manufacture of bed, table and furnishing linen." The number of enterprises, legal form and number of employees are considered.

Estimates for the years **** and **** in both graphs on the evolution of the number of enterprises and the number of employees were obtained using the function PREVISION.LINEAR in Excel. This function makes it possible to make a linear projection of a future value based on a historical data set.

Firms

The graph illustrates the evolution of the number of bedding, tableware and furnishing firms in Italy between **** and ****. The sector experienced significant growth between **** and ****, increasing from *,*** to *,*** firms. From **** to ****, the number of companies remained essentially stable, with slight declines and recoveries around *,*** operators. Values for **** and **** are estimated and indicate a slight increase to *,*** firms in ****, signaling a trend of consolidation in the production market.

Trends in the number of bed, table and furniture linen manufacturing enterprises legal form

Regarding the legal form of enterprises involved in the activities described by the ATECO code above, we can see in the graph below how sole proprietors, freelancers, and self-employed account for the ...

3.3 Distribution and outlets

For this aspect of the market, we consider data provided by ISTAT for activities registered under ATECO code **.**.** "Retail trade in clothing, furnishing and household linen fabrics." The number of enterprises, legal form and number of employees are considered.

Estimates for the years **** and **** in both graphs on the evolution of the number of enterprises and the number of employees were obtained using the function PREVISION.LINEAR in Excel. This function makes it possible to make a linear projection of a future value based on a historical data set.

Firms

The graph shows the evolution of the number of establishments specializing in the retail trade of household textiles in Italy from **** to ****. After a steady decline from **** (***), there is a reversal of the trend starting in ****, with a slow recovery bringing the number of businesses to *,*** in ****, *,*** in ****, and *,*** in ****.

Evolution of the number of specialized textile retail stores Italy, ****-****, in number of businesses Source: ****

Legal form

In terms of the legal form of businesses, sole proprietors, freelancers and the self-employed account for the largest share (***) of retail stores specializing in textile products. Limited liability companies stand at **.* percent while general partnerships account for **.* percent of the total. Other forms ...

3.4 Leading Italian home textile companies

The following graphs illustrate Italy's leading home textile companies. Specifically, the companies have been divided into businesses devoted to manufacturing and businesses devoted to retail.

Manufacturing

In ****, among the leading Italian companies in the home textile production sector, Tenacta Group ranks clearly in first place with a turnover of **.* million euros. It is followed at a distance by Brianzatende with **.* million and Caleffi with ** million. Furia Cuscini (***) complete the middle group. Valtex with **.* million and Elcam with **.* million close the ranking.

Top Italian home textile companies by turnover Italy, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Distribution

In ****, among the main Italian companies active in the trade of clothing, furniture and home textiles, Vincenzo Zucchi is confirmed as the leader with a turnover of **.* million euros, followed by Frette with **.* million. At a distance are Arnaboldi (***).

Leading Italian companies in the apparel, home furnishings and linens trade by turnover Italy, ****, in millions of euros ReportCompanies

4 Supply analysis

4.1 Overview of the offer

Household linens can be segmented into six types of products:

Bed sheets, comforter covers, pillowcases; The bedding items: comforters, pillows, plaids, blankets, bedspreads, quilts, etc; The bathroom linen: towels, gloves, bathrobes; The table linen: tablecloths, napkins; The kitchen linen: dishcloths, towels; Textile decoration: upholstery fabrics, curtains, veils.

As for the fabrics used in production:

Bed linen is mainly made of: Percale: a dense plain weave fabric made from both carded and combed cotton. These types of sheets are the most valuable: the high thread count gives the fabric a velvety feel. Flannel: a soft, lightweight fabric with a herringbone weave, usually made of cotton with a hairy trim on one or both sides. The raised surface provides a fluffy appearance, offering a pleasant feel. Great for keeping warm during the cold winter months. Jersey: a shirred knit fabric. The fabric is made by circular, flat or warp knitting methods. Very stretchy, with good drape qualities. Rasatello: a fabric structure that has apparently more threads on the right side of the fabric than other basic fabrics; this gives the fabric more softness and a shinier appearance.

(***)

Bath linen uses: Cotton: an excellent material that can absorb large amounts of water Microfiber: ...

4.2 Prices

As the category of household linen is extremely broad and includes many product categories, in order to analyze the price ranges in this market, we will select one product category from each major sub-division of the market and compare its prices among different companies.

Bed linen: sheet sets; The bath linen: bathrobes; The table and kitchen linen: tablecloths;

Product category Company Price range (***) Double flat sheet sets Vincenzo Zucchi €**.**-€**.** Caleffi €**.**-€**.** IKEA €**.**-€**.** Maisons du Monde €**.**-€***.** Zara Home €**.**-€***.** Bathrobes Vincenzo Zucchi €**.**-€**.** Caleffi €**.**-€***.** IKEA €**.**-€**.** Maisons du Monde €**.**-€**.** Zara Home €**.**-€**.** Tablecloths Vincenzo Zucchi €**.**-€**.** Caleffi €**.**-€**.** IKEA €*.**-€**.** Maisons du Monde €**.**-€***.** Zara Home €**.**-***.**

Between January **** and April ****, the consumer price index for home textiles in Italy shows an overall upward dynamic. At the beginning of ****, the value stood at ***.*, holding steady until August. Starting in September, a more pronounced increase is observed, taking the index to *** in October and ***.* in December. The index continues to rise in the early months of ****, peaking at ***.* in March, then slightly declining to ***.* in April

Consumer price index household textile products Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat

Between January **** and March ****, the producer price index for textile products in ...

4.3 The trend of natural fibers

Textile companies are trying to offer natural materials, the production of which is environmentally friendly, in order to meet the growing concerns of consumers sensitive to sustainability issues. it is highly likely that this trend will characterize future collections and could lead to a close association between the textile and agricultural sectors.

Recently, Donne in Campo, an association of the Cia-Agricoltori Italiani (***) registered the trademark "agritessuti," in order to create a ***% eco-sustainable Made in Italy textile supply chain that uses natural fabrics with natural dyes made from agricultural products and waste, such as the leaves of white artichokes, the "tunics" of coppery onions, pomegranate peels, chestnut husks or the pruning residues of cherry and olive trees.

In addition, the UN has called for new production systems with lower environmental impact by **** for the textile industry, considering that it is one of the most polluting.

In the field of domestic fashion, companies are recently rediscovering an ancient product, but one that had been sidelined in recent years, hemp fiber. Italy until World War II was the world's largest producer of hemp, after Russia. The fiber was later replaced by cotton or nylon. As of ****, however, it is again possible to produce hemp ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Market regulation

Textile products are defined as all products which, in their raw, semi-worked, manufactured, semi-finished, or semi-made-up state, are composed exclusively of textile fibers, regardless of the mixing or joining process used.

The following are assimilated to textile products:

products whose textile fibers constitute at least ** percent by weight; textiles, the textile components of which constitute at least ** percent by weight, for covering furniture, umbrellas, parasols, and, under the same conditions, the textile components of multi-layer floor coverings, mattresses and camping goods, as well as insulating linings of footwear and gloves; textile products incorporated into other products of which they are an integral part, when their composition is specified.

The composition labeling requirement does not apply:

to textile products given for processing to home workers or independent enterprises working from materials supplied to them without giving rise to a transfer for consideration; textile products made to measure by tailors acting as self-employed workers; to products listed in Annex V of EU Regulation No. ****/****

Household linen, like all textile products, must therefore meet certain standards in terms of

Chemicals: the European Reach regulation sets the legislative framework for the use of chemicals. Labeling: textile products must be labeled so that their fiber composition ...

6 Positioning of players

6.1 Segmentation

  • Vincenzo Zucchi
  • Gabel Industria Tessile
  • Dedar
  • Caleffi
  • Gentili Mosconi
  • Rubelli
  • Frette
  • IKEA Italia
  • Maisons du Monde Italia

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