East Malaysia Delivery
Wholesale curtain material shipped direct from our PJ warehouse to Sabah. Air freight in 3-4 days or sea freight for bulk orders — your choice, your timeline.
We are not in Kota Kinabalu. Let's get that out of the way first. Artwork Fabrics operates from our warehouse at Lot 1509, Batu 8, Jalan Klang Lama in Taman Desaria, Petaling Jaya. But we have been shipping curtain fabric across the South China Sea to Sabah for over two decades, and the process is a lot smoother than most KK buyers expect.
The reason is simple: there is no large-scale curtain fabric pembekal in East Malaysia carrying the kind of range we hold in PJ. Most kedai kain in Kota Kinabalu stock a limited selection — maybe 40 to 60 designs — sourced from the same two or three middlemen. Our ready stock runs deeper than 287 fabric options across linen, velvet, blackout, sheer, and blended weaves.
For a tukang jahit or curtain contractor in KK, that difference matters. Your client wants something specific? We probably have it.
This is the first question every Sabah customer asks, so here is the honest breakdown.
Air freight gets your curtain material to KK in 3-4 working days from dispatch. We use Pos Laju and private couriers depending on weight. Cost wise, expect to add roughly RM4-7 per metre to your landed price on lighter fabrics (sheers, standard polyester at 120-180gsm). Heavier stuff — thick velvet at 320gsm or blackout with foam backing — will cost more per kilo, obviously. Air freight works best for urgent orders under 100 metres.
Sea freight is where the economics flip. Shipping a pallet by sea from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu takes 7-12 working days but costs a fraction of air. For orders above 200 metres, sea freight adds only RM1.50-3 per metre to your fabric cost. If you are buying for a resort project or a condo development, sea freight is the only option that makes commercial sense.
Most suppliers won't tell you this, but the real delay in East Malaysia logistics is not the vessel. It is customs clearance at Sabah port. We include all documentation — packing lists, commercial invoice, and fibre content declarations — to minimise holdups. Our shipments typically clear in one working day.
Price. Full stop.
Kota Kinabalu's curtain fabric market has fewer players, which means markups are steeper. A polyester jacquard that sells at RM8-12 per metre from our PJ warehouse might retail at RM18-25 in a KK kedai kain. Even after adding freight, your landed cost from Artwork Fabrics comes in 30-45% below local retail pricing. And that is on our standard range — the gap gets wider on premium fabrics like European linen blends.
We supply at wholesale rates from MOQ 50 metres per design. No cutting charge, no surcharge for single-roll orders. Pricing is per metre, not per bidang, so you know exactly what you are paying.
KK is not like KL. The salt air, the humidity hitting 85-90% regularly, the proximity to the coast — all of this eats through the wrong fabric choice faster than you would think. We have seen curtains in beachfront chalets around Tanjung Aru develop mildew spots within four months because the contractor used untreated cotton-poly blends.
Our recommendation for any coastal property in Sabah is straightforward. Stick with 100% polyester or polyester-nylon blends rated for high-humidity environments. We carry anti-mildew treated options at 240gsm that hold up well in resort settings — the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru type of installation. These fabrics pass colourfastness testing at Grade 4-5 and resist UV degradation even with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea.
For resort lobbies and hotel corridors, fire-retardant treatment is another consideration. We stock FR-treated blackout fabrics and sheers that meet BS 5867 Part 2 standards. The upcharge is about RM3-5 per metre over standard untreated equivalents.
Condos along the Likas Bay waterfront and resort rooms at Sutera Harbour typically have windows running 240-260cm floor to ceiling. Using a 110-inch (280cm) or 118-inch (300cm) wide fabric means your tukang jahit can cut a single drop with no horizontal seam. That is less labour, less wastage, and a cleaner finish.
Our 280cm and 300cm widths cover roughly 73% of our ready stock range. The narrower 54-inch (137cm) options are mostly for feature panels, upholstery, and cushion covers.
Dead simple. Here is how most KK orders go.
First, tell us what you need over WhatsApp or phone. We will check ready stock against your quantity. If you want to see physical swatches before committing, we courier sample books to your address in KK via Pos Laju — usually arrives within 3-5 working days. Sample books are free for trade customers. Retail enquiries carry a refundable RM50-100 deposit depending on the book.
Once you confirm the fabric and quantity, we invoice via email. Payment is by bank transfer — either full payment upfront for new accounts, or 50% deposit with balance before dispatch for established customers. No credit terms for first orders, full stop. After three to four orders with clean payment history, we extend 30-day terms.
Then we pack, weigh, and arrange either air or sea freight based on your preference. You get a tracking number or bill of lading within 24 hours of dispatch.
Here is something KK buyers should plan around: stock runs low before Hari Raya. Every year without fail, the popular neutrals — cream, taupe, warm grey — get cleared out in the 6-8 weeks before Raya as every household in the country wants fresh langsir. And replenishment from our China mills takes 45-60 days by container.
The same happens before Chinese New Year, though the colours affected are different — reds, golds, and burgundy shades move fast during CNY period. Container delays from Ningbo and Shanghai ports can push restock timelines out to 75 days during peak shipping season (October through February).
If you have a resort project with a fixed completion date, place your fabric order at least 8-10 weeks ahead. For standard residential jobs, 3-4 weeks lead time is usually enough.
Why KK Contractors Choose Us
Air freight in 3-4 days for urgent jobs or sea freight at RM1.50-3/m for bulk orders over 200 metres. You pick what works for your project timeline.
Anti-mildew polyester and FR-treated options rated for Sabah's 85-90% humidity. Grade 4-5 colourfastness for beachfront and resort installations.
280cm and 300cm rolls for seamless floor-to-ceiling drops — no horizontal joins needed. Covers most condo and hotel window heights in one cut.
Same rates as walk-in customers at our Jalan Klang Lama warehouse. Even with freight, landed cost runs 30-45% below KK retail for standard polyester ranges.
Physical swatch books couriered to KK in 3-5 days. Free for trade accounts — no guessing from screen colours on a phone.
Full packing lists, commercial invoices, and fibre declarations included with every shipment. Customs clearance at Sabah port typically done in one working day.
About 60% of our Sabah orders come from three segments: resort and hospitality, high-rise condominiums, and government or institutional projects. The remaining 40% is a mix of residential renovation and curtain shop walk-in resellers.
Resorts and hotels. Properties around Kundasang, Tanjung Aru, and the islands off KK need fabrics that can handle salt air and constant AC cycling between humid outdoor air and cool indoor environments. We supply anti-mildew treated polyester sheers and blackout linings in bulk rolls of 50-100 metres per colourway. Fire-retardant certification is included where specified.
Condos and apartments. Developments along Likas Bay and the Jesselton waterfront are driving steady demand for mid-range curtain cloth. Our linen-look polyester at RM12-18 per metre in 280cm width sells well here — it gives the natural fibre look without the mildew risk.
Government and institutional. Schools, hospitals, clinics, and government offices in Sabah buy through their appointed contractors. We provide quotations with full product specifications, test certificates, and compliance documentation needed for government tender submissions.
But we also sell to individual tukang jahit running small curtain businesses in Penampang, Inanam, and Putatan. An order of 50 metres is enough to open an account. No minimum spend requirement beyond the MOQ per fabric design.
Common Questions
Air freight typically arrives within 3-4 working days after dispatch from our Taman Desaria warehouse. Sea freight takes 7-12 working days depending on vessel schedule and customs clearance at Sabah port. We provide tracking numbers for both options.
MOQ is 50 metres per design for any order. For air freight to be cost-effective, we recommend at least 50 metres total. Sea freight makes better commercial sense at 200 metres and above — the per-metre freight cost drops significantly with volume.
Yes. We carry humidity-resistant polyester and polyester-blend fabrics specifically suited to Sabah's coastal climate. Anti-mildew treated options at 240gsm are popular with resort and beachfront property projects. These fabrics are tested for colourfastness at Grade 4-5 and resist UV degradation.
Absolutely. We courier sample books via Pos Laju or J&T to anywhere in Sabah. Delivery takes 3-5 days. Sample books are free for registered trade customers. Retail enquiries carry a refundable deposit of RM50-100 depending on the book size.
We carry 54-inch (137cm), 110-inch (280cm), and 118-inch (300cm) widths. The 280cm and 300cm options are most popular with KK tukang jahit — they cover floor-to-ceiling windows up to 290cm in a single seamless drop. The 54-inch width is used mainly for feature panels and cushion covers.
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Send us your requirements via WhatsApp. We will confirm stock, pricing, and the best freight option for your order size.
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