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.
Gina says
Where do,I find the retro googie designs
Pam Kueber says
Try Diamondhead…
Diane Carpenter says
I want to buy 20 yards of Hawaii Cala Cora kayaks. How do I go about doing that?
Pam Kueber says
Hi Diane, contact the company listed. The hotlinks to their sites are in the story, in blue.
Helen Snell says
I would recommend ordering samples of any of these fabrics first. I ordered the Diamondhead ‘Daddy-O’ and it is not Barkcloth. They describe it as ‘Cotton Crepe’ If you are hoping for the real deal you might be disappointed. The Cloud 9 is closer to the real thing but not as sturdy as good old MelinaMade (RIP).
Pam Kueber says
There are different types of fabric: crepe, kahala, kapalua and cotton twill. I took the Daddy-O off the page because it’s crepe, like you said.
Yes: Order samples first!
Marilyn says
Gosh, these fabrics are beautiful!..Thanks for posting…
Terri says
I love barkcloth and buy vintage whenever I can afford it – not as often as I like. I have even bought barkcloth on padded window boards at garage sales and taken it apart to find something salvageable. I mix the patterns too – some are just valances, some are curtains, some are pillows etc. even though the are mixed I keep them all in the same theme like tropical for instance. My daughter-in-law has made me two purses out of my found barkcloth and they draw lots of comments.
K. Tobias says
Can you use the Cloud 9 fabric as “wall paper”? I’ve never priced wallpaper so maybe fabric is too expensive as wallpaper?
Pam Kueber says
Hi K., there are methods to use fabric as wallpaper, but I would tend to think that, yes, it would/could be more expensive than just buying wallpaper. Wallpapers vary in costs, of course.
P.S. I stapled animal print fabric, a sort of heavy faux velveteen, directly to the walls in my Mahalo Lounge. The fabric was thick enough that it laide down quite nice and flat; also it required no matching of seams since it was Krazee to begin with: https://retrorenovation.com/2017/05/31/leopard-print-fabric-used-wall-covering/
BEVERLY WILLIAMS says
Absolutely infatuated with the “Moonlight in the Pines” pattern (ivory background especially). Is it allowable for a company like Spoonflower to duplicate that design on cotton or twill?? Unfortunately, I think I know the answer to that; just thought I would ask!
Thanks much.
Pam Kueber says
Hi Beverly, consult with designer of the pattern to answer this question.
Nigel says
I too would like to source barkcloth in solid colours. I think it would be ideal for slipcovers and tablecloths. As it so happens, I already have too many patterns going on, yet love the texture and hand of these fabrics.
Pam Kueber says
I think I saw a few solids in there… Trendtex has a solid black and a solid ivory, for example. But… I don’t think those are the “colors” you had in mind 🙂
Dan ODay says
I had thought true barkcloth was not quite sturdy enough for upholstery, especially for furniture in daily use – any thoughts?
Pam Kueber says
Check manufacturers’ specifications. In general, I had always thought ‘not’ but after considering the pros/cons you may choose to use it that way…
Becky says
Also hawaiifabricmart.com!
What you’ll find at Diamondhead and Hawaii Barkcloth plus lots more! My bedroom drapes are from DF1535
Pam Kueber says
Yes, I think that’s an aggregator rather than a source-manufacturer, although I’m not 100% sure. I have been trying to focus on source companies that are actually the manufacturers so that with this list, readers can really see all the possibilities. There’s actually one more I need to contact and may add to the list.