A forthcoming exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates 140 years of Liberty – one of Britain's most enduring and eccentric retail institutions.
Forget the glitz and glam of Selfridges, the destination store for those with deep pockets and an eye for beautiful things has always been the curious mock Tudor emporium at the top end of Regent Street. Established by Athur Lasenby Liberty in 1875 and opening with just three staff, Liberty celebrates its 140th anniversary this year.
Although reknowned for its expertly chosen furniture and rugs, its signature range of printed textiles has always been at the heart of the retailer’s business. With oriental and art nouveau influences, William Morris prints and its famous Tana Lawn (a high thread-count cotton fabric traditionally covered in dense floral patterns), a trip to the store's second floor fabric department reveals that the fabric is as popular today as when it was first introduced in the 1920s.
A new exhibition exploring Liberty’s enduring impact on British fashion opens at The Fashion and Textile Museum in October, featuring over 150 objects and highlighting the store’s many collaborations with designers from Arthur Silver to Vivienne Westwood. As well as special curator tours, on Thursday 22 October there’s also a rare opportunity to hear MD (and star of last year’s Channel 4 documentary) Ed Burstell talk about the highs and lows of having the top job at Liberty. Burstell will also be signing his autobiography At Liberty – From Rehab to the Front Row.
Liberty in Fashion
09 October 2015 - 28 February 2016
Fashion and Textile Museum
83 Bermondsey Street
London, SE1