Barkcloth is a wonderful fabric for making curtains and pillows for midcentury homes and tropical home tiki bars too. In this update to my original 2011 story, I scanned anew for companies still making barkcloth today. Since 2011, we lost one beloved maker (Full Swing Textiles). Even so, today there seems to be more designs of barkcloth available than I can ever remember. In all, I count more than 150 different barkcloth fabrics on the market, from six companies, with mid century, contemporary, tropical and even googie designs. All things tropical — including tiki — are hot in the design world, and these rooms needs their barkcloth curtains and pillows!
- What distinguishes “barkcloth” from other fabrics: As I understand it, the colors are typically printed onto ‘slubby’ or ‘nubbly’ cotton fabric that is typically fairly heavy weight (too heavy weight for apparel, for example). Even given the heavier weight, check manufacturers’ specifications regarding any given fabric’s applicability for upholstery vs. accessory uses like drapery and pillows.
- And note, in the list that follows, I am pretty liberal about what is allowed to be called “barkcloth.” As always, it’s best to get a sample before you commit and as noted above, check with the manufacturer about recommended uses for the fabric.
#1 Trendtex (Barkcloth Hawaii) — 106 barkcloth designs!
To be sure, Trendtex Fabrics out of Hawaii is the big manufacturer of tropical design barkcloth. As I write this story, they show 106 different barkcloth designs (available in various fabric constructions/weights). That’s a mighty selection! See all the Trendtex barkcloth options on their website HawaiiBarkcloth.com here.
Above: Here’s how Trendtex describes their different fabric types — but again, order samples first to ensure you know what you are getting is what you are expecting.
#2 — Hoffman Fabrics — 12 barkcloth designs
Added to the list in March 2019: 11 screenprinted barkcloth designs by Hoffman California-International Fabrics. This includes eight tropical patterns and three retro googie patterns. These look very promising — I am going to contact the company to get samples to check them out first-hand. Wow: Hoffman Fabrics has been in business since 1924 — run by the same family. They are based in Mission Viejo, Calif.
- Tropical design barkcloth from Hoffman Fabrics
- Check out their retro barkcloths too
- Note: This company is a manufacturer, see this page on where to find their fabrics retail.
#3 — Stylemaker Fabrics
Update: Barkcloths no longer on their website, but I’ll leave this up so that I remember to check again in the future.
#4 — Island Paradise Barkcloth by Sevenberry / Robert Kaufman — 22 barkcloth designs
Updating this story I discovered this new line of Island Paradise Barkcloth by Sevenberry from Robert Kaufman Sevenberry — 22 designs in all, some available now and some coming to stores in April 2019. While I am not quire sure of the fabric composition — that is: Is it slubby enough to qualify as “barkcloth,” the patterns look quite nice.
#5 — Cloud 9 Fabrics barkcloth — 8 designs currently
For more modern (rather than tropical) barkcloth designs, Cloud 9 Fabrics is the maker to watch. It seems like every year, one of their designers comes out with a new batch of designs. These collections are time-limited, so if you want ’em, nab ’em. Right now, it’s Homestyle by Eloise Renouf.
#6 — Birch Fabric — 10 Charley Harper barkcloth patterns coming September 2019
Update April 19 — I see that Birch Fabric will have 10 barkcloth designs featuring Charley Harper prints available in September 2019. These are all mid century modern motifs. I like the idea of a few of them for woodsy paneled rooms, or maybe kitchen valences.
#7 — Buy vintage barkcloth
Of course, when it comes to draperies… or for fabric for pillows… you also can put your vibes out there and wait for the retro decorating gods to send some vintage your way. Watch ebay, etsy, and of course my favorite: estate sales. I have, many a time, bought draperies still hanging from the windows.
Florida Bungalow(affiliate link) is a well-known collector of vintage barkcloth and has an amazing collection, for example.
Know, though, that vintage barkcloth is super collectible these days. Pristine sets of vintage barkcloth curtains can cost a pretty penny!
This story was updated from the original published in January 2011.
Susan K says
I’ve purchased pillows and drapes on line from joanna ha http://www.joannaha.com. In fact, I have a pair of pillows that match your valance, Pam!
I’ve also purchased contemporary barkcloth from Hawaiiana sites. You just have to be willing to sift through the scantily clad hula-girl calendars! I love barkcloth–the way George Costanza loves velvet! 🙂
How about a Friday post of people’s uses of barkcloth? I have handbags, photo albums, and I’d love to see chair covers, pillows, and drapes in the context of a cool MCM room!
pam kueber says
Susan – note that BarkclothHawaii is listed above
Naomi says
After finding Tonic Living through your site I ordered samples. Janine, the owner, is a model of prompt customer service. I can vouch that her site photos are very true with colours and descriptions and the barkcloth has a great fall for drapes. Even though I live in Australia I got Janine to make my curtains, in Canada! They arrived within weeks, lined, pinch pleated and ready. Keep meaning to take some photos, but they do look great.
pam kueber says
Wow, that’s great to hear, Naomi! I’ll repeate: Tell Janine she needs to advertise on my site — she’ll get even more customers! It’s hard to find someone to make custom pinch pleats these days…
Susan says
Thank you It works now. I am very excited.
pam kueber says
You’re welcome — tell Melinamade she needs to advertise on my site!
Edwin says
AND tell her that she needs to find a supplier to make her wallpapers that have been out of stock forever! I spoke to her a couple of months ago and she is actively looking for a supplier for the paper to print her 50’s style wallpapers on. The former supplier stopped producing the paper she needed
Maybe someone that reads the comments on this blog can help her find a new supplier source!
Susan says
I have not been able to access the melinamade website for some time now. Sad because I loved her designs. The link goes nowhere for me.
pam kueber says
Susan, I updated the url – try again
Joe says
J&O Fabrics is 20 minutes from me, and about 5 minutes from where Nikki works, so if anyone needs me to do any recon work to scope something out, just let me know.
karen says
I forgot to mention that sometimes the true vintage barkcloth won’t stand up to heavy wear & washing. I made some potholders & placemats out of a piece I bought on etsy, which looked & felt sturdy enough, but the fabric began to fall apart after several washings.
karen says
I’ve purchased several pieces of barkcloth from Tonic Living, including the two you featured. Gorgeous! I plan to make a kitchen window valance, a few pillows for the couch/chairs, & some handbags to sell in my etsy shop.
Tina says
I’ve found some amazing barkcloth on eBay, but I’ve discovered that too many sellers use the word “vintage” incorrectly. Or, like J&O, use the expression “vintage style” to get their items to show up in searches–not fair and quite annoying–and enough to get them excluded from my searches, even though they look like an amazing source of fabric.
Etsy is a great source for all things mid century. My kids even bought my Christmas present this year from Etsy’s Vintage category.
LiveLikeYou says
What a fun blog!! Glad to just have found. Retro renovations…love it!!
Trouble aka Shane says
Wow. Sometimes the amount of information on any one topic makes my head swim.