Curtain Fabric Supplier in Kuching

Kuching is growing fast. The Isthmus, Samarahan corridor, new government offices along Jalan Tun Jugah, hotels near the Waterfront, and mixed developments pushing towards Kota Samarahan all create steady demand for curtain fabric. But here is the issue: most curtain fabric pembekal in Kuching carry limited stock compared to what you can find in KL or PJ.

That gap is where we sit.

Artwork Fabrics has supplied curtain material for project buyers working on government buildings in Sarawak, hotel refurbishments in Kuching, and residential condo handovers where the developer's ID consultant specified fabric that nobody in Kuching stocked locally. The pattern is the same each time: a contractor or curtain maker gets the project specs, realises the local market does not carry the right fabric weight or colourway, and starts looking at Semenanjung suppliers.

Government and institutional projects

Sarawak government projects typically specify curtain fabric by weight, fire rating, and colour range. Common specs include 180gsm to 240gsm dimout in neutral tones, or blackout fabric at 260gsm and above for meeting rooms and VIP suites. We carry ready stock that meets these specifications in our PJ warehouse. For larger institutional tenders, we can also arrange indent orders from our factory sources with a 45 to 60 day lead time.

One thing to note: government projects in Sarawak sometimes require fabric test certificates, particularly colour fastness grades (typically Grade 4 minimum on the grey scale) and Martindale abrasion test results for upholstery-weight fabrics. We can provide these from the mill if required. Just flag it early so we include the documentation with your shipment.

Hotels and hospitality

Kuching's hotel scene is expanding. Boutique hotels near the Waterfront, business hotels along Jalan Padungan, resorts in Damai. Hotel curtain fabric specs tend to be stricter than residential: FR-treated blackout at 118" width (roughly 300cm), colour fastness Grade 4 minimum, and sometimes acoustic-rated fabric for function rooms.

We have supplied hotel-grade curtain fabric including triple-weave blackout, FR dimout, and heavy velvet for feature drapes. For a 78-room hotel, you might need 400 to 600 metres of fabric depending on window sizes and whether the spec calls for sheer-and-blackout layering. That is exactly the kind of volume that makes direct supply from PJ more cost-effective than buying through a Kuching middleman.

Residential and condo projects

Residential buyers in Kuching are different from KL buyers. The typical landed house in Kuching has larger windows than a KL condo unit, which means more fabric per bidang. And Kuching homeowners tend to favour heavier, more opaque fabrics because of the rain-season humidity and strong afternoon sun.

For curtain makers in Kuching handling residential work, we recommend keeping a sample book of our top 15 to 20 best-selling designs. We can prepare a custom sample book with linen-look fabrics, dimout in earth tones, and blackout in popular neutral shades. Your client picks from physical swatches. You order. We ship. Stock runs low before Raya and CNY, so plan your restocking around those periods.

Shipping logistics: PJ to Kuching

Let us be straight about the shipping side because that is the part Sarawak buyers always ask about first.

We use two main freight forwarders for Peninsular-to-Kuching shipments. Both are experienced with fabric cargo and know how to handle rolls properly, no folding, no stacking heavy items on top. Fabric rolls ship upright in the container, wrapped in plastic to protect against moisture during sea transit.

Transit time from our Taman Desaria warehouse to Kuching depot is typically 5 to 8 working days. But be aware that during peak season, especially around Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, container space fills up quickly and you might see delays of an extra 2 to 4 days. Plan accordingly. If your project has a hard deadline, order 2 to 3 weeks earlier than you normally would.

Shipping cost depends on volume. For a typical order of 80 to 120 metres of standard 280cm-width curtain fabric, expect shipping to add between RM1.50 and RM3.00 per metre to your landed cost. Heavier fabrics like velvet (typically 350gsm to 450gsm) or thick blackout (260gsm and above) cost more per metre to ship because freight is charged by weight or volume, whichever is greater.

For orders above 200 metres, we can usually negotiate better freight rates through consolidation. And if you are a regular buyer doing monthly restocks, we set up a standing arrangement with the forwarder that brings the per-shipment cost down further.

What about container delays from China ports?

This affects us indirectly. When container congestion hits ports like Shenzhen, Shanghai, or Ningbo, our incoming stock from factories gets delayed, which means certain fabric designs might go out of stock temporarily. We cannot control port congestion. But we can tell you upfront what is in stock at our PJ warehouse right now and what has an incoming ETA. Transparency matters more than promises.

For project buyers who need guaranteed supply, we recommend placing your fabric order as early as the project timeline allows. A government building project in Kuching with a 4-month fit-out window should lock in fabric within the first month. Waiting until month 3 is how people end up with the wrong shade of beige because their first choice ran out.

Fabric widths and specifications for Kuching buyers

Our ready stock includes fabrics in 110" (280cm) and 118" (300cm) widths, which are the standard for curtain making in Malaysia. Some decorative fabrics come in 54" (137cm) width for feature panels, cushion covers, and upholstery use. All fabrics are sold per metre, not per bidang or per roll. No cutting charge for orders above the MOQ.

Typical weight ranges: sheer fabrics at 45gsm to 90gsm, dimout at 160gsm to 220gsm, blackout at 220gsm to 320gsm, and decorative jacquards at 180gsm to 280gsm. We list the exact weight and composition for each design in our digital catalogue. If your Kuching project spec calls for a specific weight range or fibre composition, tell us and we will filter the catalogue down to matching options only.