With a name that clearly encapsulates what this brand is all about, you’d imagine walking into its store – centrally located along Naxxar Road, San Gwann – knowing what to expect. But it will exceed such expectations, in part due to the broad variety of its offering, as well as the knowledge and expertise of the team behind it. Fabric Malta, a third-generation family business, is the culmination of almost four decades dealing exclusively in soft furnishings. “Our roots were set in the early 80s when my parents opened their first retail outlet in Paola,” says Yves Muscat, Director of Fabric. “In 1986, we moved our business to High Street, Hamrun, a popular shopping area at the time that was the catalyst for what we have become today.”
The business rebranded in 2014 but remained true to its roots, evolving its practices and products in line with the demands of modern times and expanding its range of soft furnishings to include fine wool rugs, wallpaper, motorised curtain rails and more.
An evolving home
As the second generation leading the business, Yves recalls how the demand for furnishing fabrics has changed in recent decades. “Life was very different when we first started. One’s home was their pride and joy, where family gatherings or social events were held, which created a strong demand for luxurious fabrics intended for well-dressed rooms.”
This spurred a decade of intricate, exquisite and imaginative curtain designs throughout the 1990s, when a classic style became the most covetable kind. During this time, the San Gwann shop opened its doors, expanding further in 1998.
“This trend continued into the early 2000s until we started to see a gradual shift in lifestyles, which simultaneously saw us moving from the classical to the contemporary style. This was the defining trend of the following decade and beyond,” says Yves. Following a restructuring and refurbishment in 2014, the business rebranded to Fabric, marking the start of a new chapter.
“Today, my son Isaac, the third generation, handles our day-to-day operations, backed by almost 40 years of experience exclusively in the field of soft furnishings,” says Yves. “The experience gained and tenacity of working in this field places us at the very top of the list when it comes to professional, tailor-made furnishings – and our client base proves it.”
‘Authenticity is at the heart of our approach’
Fabric’s expertise began and still is the making of bespoke curtains – a central part of its product offering from the start. “We offer a tailor-made service for window dressings, where texture plays a pivotal role. Custom-made curtains are the most stylish and practical solution for dressing any aperture,” says Isaac, interior stylist at Fabric.
“Additionally, we supply all the necessary hardware, including a fully automated curtain rail system, operable via a hard-wired or battery-powered option.”
Over the years, Fabric’s niche expanded to include wallpaper and wall coverings sourced from reputable European labels. Design, colour and texture inspired by a whole range of cultural references – from a collection that draws from the colours of Morrocco to one inspired by the art of weaving and another that echoes the bustling streets of Havana – are harnessed to deliver a vast choice of styles and colours.
While homes in the past were dressed to reflect the formalities of that era, today, home owners take pride in creating sanctuaries that reflect their personal taste down to a tee, which at times calls for the input of professionals to achieve the desired result.
Isaac stresses Fabric’s ongoing collaboration with interior designers and architects who seek the best possible choices for their clients, be it the right set of curtains for insulation or privacy, a creative choice of wallpaper for a statement wall, or a luxurious rug for their favourite room.
“Our range of rugs, which forms part of the Natural Collection, is a reflection of our emphasis on quality. We offer a choice of long-wool rugs, made of pure, New Zealand wool sourced from sustainable suppliers, which are fast becoming our signature offering,” says Isaac.
“This collection comprises a variety of home accessories and upholstered pieces made from other natural materials, such as fur and leather, that add warmth inside the home while enduring the test of time.”
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