Behind the Pattern: Arbor
When I was first working on Arbor, I was drawn to the deep texture we could achieve with this weave structure. The fabric has a substantial weight and a satisfying chunkiness– you just want to touch it. At the same time, its structured quadrille pattern reminded me of carefully arranged garden plots—creating a sense of order within its lush texture.
As I developed the fabric, I kept asking myself: How would it look upholstered? How would it fold? How would the longer floats feel under your fingers? Many of my past designs have a flatter texture, so this fabric was a fun departure. When we received our first samples, I took them home, draped them over the arm of my sofa, placed them on my favorite chair, and studied them from different angles. I wanted to see how the texture caught the light, and how it felt in a real home setting.
I also brought a sample to a few design appointments. When I visited Brit, Damian, and the Studio DB team in NYC, I was eager to hear their thoughts. Brit’s feedback stuck with me—she described Arbor as a great complement to our printed linens and noted that it could be used in a way similar to bouclé. Sometimes, she said, you need something with a bit more weight for a highly textural moment. I loved that description. I can get a bit stuck in my world thinking about color, pattern, and texture and I love the perspective of designers who create these compelling interiors.
While bouclé’s texture comes from looped yarn, Arbor is made primarily from thick cotton yarns–you can really see each one as they interlace to form thick little bundles in quadrille shapes, accented by contrasting moon shapes that define each form. These details created opportunities to play with color, making Arbor truly one-of-a-kind.
Since its release, I’ve had the chance to see it used in some beautiful ways. In our photoshoot, we upholstered a small sofa in the blue-green colorway. Seeing it on a larger piece confirmed what I had hoped—it turned out beautifully. The weave has such nice depth which catches the light adding dimension to the form of the sofa. It was so satisfying to see the texture form so nicely around the furniture shape. Later, my friend Kelley upholstered a chair in the green colorway, and I loved how it turned out. The fabric folded beautifully along the arm detail, and the plump skirt had a lovely weight to it.
It’s a true upholstery fabric that excels in its traditional role and is adaptable enough for unique installations. I could easily see it covering wall panels in a luxury hotel or upholstering modern furniture pieces—perhaps a sleek, angular chair, or a platform bed—to create a striking contrast between structure and softness. I’d pair this with printed linens to create an interesting contrast between pattern and texture. As for durability, Arbor meets 50,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. It can handle family life, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have cats—ours were very drawn to the texture and loved to scratch their nails on it!
Currently, it’s available in three versatile, cool colorways:
Green-Blue – A deep, moody shade that adds richness and warmth to a cozy space.
Blue – Classic and fresh, perfectly suited for coastal or timeless interiors.
Green – Primarily ivory with subtle green accents, this airy hue feels understated yet romantic, making it work in both minimal and layered spaces.
Each color highlights its texture uniquely, and I hope to introduce warmer tones in the future.
Have you used this fabric in a project? I’d love to see how it turned out! And if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to order a swatch and experience it firsthand. Arbor is a fabric that feels at home in so many different styles—whether in a traditional, modern, or eclectic home, its texture and depth bring something special to any room.
Email sydney@rebeccaatwood.com with your installation shots for consideration to be featured on our website!
