Fabric Family

Through the Generations

The Hoffman family is deeply rooted in the fabric industry. We are first and foremost about making high-quality fabric and beautifully crafted designs, like our sustainably hand-dyed Bali batiks or our crisp digital prints. Our name goes back nearly 100 years and our passion has been passed down through generations. 

Walter lived the surfer lifestyle in Hawaii during his Navy service. Days spent walking the beach, riding killer waves and staring at breathtaking sunsets transformed his life and Hoffman’s future.

From Paradise to California

After the war, Walter returned home excited to combine his Hawaiian surfing experience with his fabric knowledge— and took the family business in a new direction. Hoffman California Fabrics began designing and printing fabric to create colorful Hawaiian shirts, swim suits, board shorts and more. It was clothing for the surfer life. Every major surf brand sprang up to ride the wave. The Southern California beach lifestyle was born. 

Defining the SoCal Lifestyle

Iconic Hoffman prints visually defined the SoCal lifestyle starting back in the 1950s and continue to do so today. They also helped cement the futures of some of the biggest apparel brands under the sun. If you buy clothing from any premium brand, there’s a good chance you own something in a Hoffman California print. 

Walter lived the surfer lifestyle in Hawaii during his Navy service. Days spent walking the beach, riding killer waves and staring at breathtaking sunsets transformed his life and Hoffman’s future.

“[Walter Hoffman is] one of the true founders of the surf industry. Bruce Brown did ‘The Endless Summer’ movie, Hobie Alter brought boards to the masses, John Severson founded Surfer magazine, and Walter Hoffman
supplied the fabric.”

Allan Seymour, Surf Historian 

Like Father, Like Daughter

As Walter was raised in the fabric world, so he raised his daughter Robin and her siblings. The story behind each Hoffman design is felt in every fabric, lives on through every clothing creation and threads together the entire Hoffman library of prints. It’s a creative history that’s undeniable and enjoyed by father and daughter alike. 

Patricia Hoffman, Robin’s mother, inspired her
daughter’s love of fashion. A bona fide “beach girl,”
Patricia was also a talented seamstress who made Robin
dresses and riding costumes from Hoffman fabric.

Family Favorites

In the Hoffman household, certain prints are considered “classic” for their timeless wearability. Here are a few Lovlei silhouettes in the prints you can always trust to “dress up” your casual look 

Collect 1

Collect 2

Collect 3