This year marked the third annual h+h americas trade show and it was the busiest and buzziest yet.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, h+h is a wholesale show for the craft industry: yarn crafts like knitting, crochet and embroidery (more on the latter as a “yarn craft” in a bit), as well as fabric and thread crafts like quilting and sewing, though it was light on garment sewing brands. It’s a North American offshoot of h+h in Cologne, Germany, and fills a hole for the yarn industry after The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) canceled its summer trade show in 2020.
From May 1-3, two halls at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, were lined with colorful displays from businesses ranging from small indie dyers to larger manufacturers like Berocco.
Spotlighting indie makers
Since h+h americas launched in 2022, I’ve been organizing the Indie Untangled Pavilion, which brings together indie dyers and solo-preneurs looking to sell their products wholesale to retailers. When I first learned that h+h was expanding into the U.S., I reached out to the show director to pitch my idea for an indie business pavilion. I knew that there needed to be a more affordable way for makers to expand the wholesale portion of their businesses, especially when many were looking to make wholesale only a small part of their overall brand strategy.
This year, the Indie Untangled pavilion included a range of makers, from the fun quilting inspired stickers and art prints of Laurenspired to the colorful yarn of indie dyers like Mollie Klein Design and Sea Change Fibers and The Uncommon Thread.
The rise of the small maker was definitely an overarching trend of the show. I had attended the TNNA trade show in 2016 and 2018 and I saw many more indie dyers and makers throughout the entire show floor.
Here are a few other trends I spotted.
Embroidery everywhere
I’ve been noticing the rise of embroidery since 2019, but it felt like it was everywhere at this year’s show. There was traditional hand embroidery, as seen at MCreativeJ‘s booth in the Indie Untangled Pavilion, and stick and stitch embroidery flower patterns for embroidering on knits from Ikigai Fiber, a yarn and embellishment company launched in 2019 by knitwear designer Pam Sasaki-Powers.
The farm yarn flock grows
Breed-specific yarn has been popular for a while now, but there was more representation of it on the show floor at h+h this year. Mitchell Wool Co, a family farm that’s been exhibiting at the Indie Untangled Rhinebeck show since 2022, was at h+h with their American Fiber line. This yarn line provides U.S. farmers a fair rate for their wool and is expanding its presence in yarn shops.
Crochet continues its moment
There were so many more crochet samples, from ornaments at the Plied booth to stunning garments that came down the runway at h+h’s first fashion show. It felt like almost every garment sample that caught my eye was crochet. There were even quilts with crocheted edging.
The fourth annual h+h americas takes place from May 7-9, 2025 and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year!
4 Responses
The h+h Americas trade show has strengthened its position as a vibrant hub for the craft industry, showcasing the latest trends and innovations in yarn, fabric and thread crafts. The event, held for the third year, proved to be the liveliest and most dynamic, attracting companies ranging from independent dyers to major manufacturers such as Berocco.
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One of the highlights of the show is the writer-led Indie Untangled Pavilion, which provides a platform for indie producers and solopreneurs to showcase their products to wholesale retailers. This initiative addresses the need for a more affordable way for manufacturers to expand their presence in the wholesale market, serving those looking to integrate wholesale into their brand strategy.
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The growing focus on sustainable local products reminds me of how creativity connects communities. Just like the unique textures in breed specific yarn, games such as drift boss also combine skill and patience to reach perfect results. It is exciting to see brands like Mitchell Wool Co supporting farmers while giving crafters quality options, reflecting how innovation and dedication enhance every experience.