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.
Lynn Dudacek says
I am trying to locate the barkcloth print that is the same as the #1 Full Swing Textiles shown above; however, the background is grey. We have a chair that is upholstered in this fabric; however, our cat has damaged it. I was hoping to locate this fabric as a gift to my husband for his birthday, as this is a special print on a special chair. From the comments above, it looks like this will be an uphill battle, since Full Swing Textiles is out of business. Do you have any suggestion. Thank you
Jeanne Bryers says
Aloha. I am looking for a source of solid color barkcloth. I am hoping to find colors to complement the Mana Natural barkcloth. Any ideas?
Maile Lakely says
Hi Pam, I’ve ordered fabric from here and the quality is very good. Color representation is also well shown. Most is tropical, but there are a few vintage designs. Aloha! https://www.barkclothhawaii.com/
Noelle says
Fabric Depot carries the “in theory” pattern.
Peggy says
If you are in the UK, try The Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, London. They have a great collection! Also, it can be ordered online at The Village Haberdashery.co.uk
Julia B. says
Full Swing Textiles now says they’re going out of business! So sad!
pam kueber says
yes…
dianne shelton says
I want to buy the Boomerang Beat Fabric, I see it on websites, but can’t figure out how to order it. Please help me. Thanks
pam kueber says
Dianne, I am not sure which fabric you are talking about. Click through the links in the story to get to the different retailers to see their current selections.
Martha says
I made cafe curtains out of the Boomerang in an aqua background from Tonic Living. It was wonderful to work with, and the curtains are beautiful. The Tonic Living folks are out of Canada, and they were great to work with.
Maile Lakely says
Another great source is http://www.hawaiianfabric.com/content/barkcloth.cfm
If you ever go to Hawaii, you must make a stop here. The fabric selections are amazing, and the barkcloth is so lovely. Bought my
drape fabric here. They have a Los Angeles location also, I believe.
Karen GearhartKann says
How could we not include Florida Bungalow?