Founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, the store began on Regent Street in 1875 selling coloured silks, but soon diversified into cashmere together with lacquerware, cloisonné enamel, oriental goods and then furniture, at which point the premises were expanded. Liberty & Co. soon became one of ‘the’ shops in London, and Arthur Liberty’s clients and friends included the artists and aesthetes Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Frederic Leighton, Oscar Wilde, Dame Ellen Terry and James McNeill Whistler. The Liberty dress department opened in 1884 and Liberty style soon became firmly associated with a unique ‘fashion’ look. 

Liberty continued to adapt to changing taste whilst maintaining its identity. The Twenties and Thirties saw the development of the floral prints that are still associated with the company and were a mainstay of these decades. ‘Young Liberty’ was introduced in the 1950s, showcasing the best of new British and international design. A wave of young designers in the Sixties embraced Liberty fabrics and the textile design studio continued to produce up-to-date, innovative designs. Designers such as Mary Quant, Foale and Tuffin, Gina Fratini and Jean Muir contributed to the company’s key role in the fashion of the 1970s. Liberty continues to inspire fashion today as designers around the world feature the brand’s distinctive textiles. 

Originated by the Fashion and Textile Museum the exhibition features more than 150 ensembles and accessories, the largest number of historic Liberty garments shown together since the company’s centenary in 1975. They range from an 1890s cape constructed from embroidered Chinese shawls, a 1930s Paul Poiret pink silk robe with embroidered neck, hem and sleeves, a late1960s Macedonia print dress similar to the one Yves Saint Laurent famously used, as well as high profile contemporary collaborations including Vivienne Westwood and international sports brand Nike. 

Dennis Nothdruft, Curator of Liberty in Fashion, said:
“From the earliest imports and Eastern influenced and artistic dress to present day collaborations, Liberty has occupied a unique place in British fashion. Every garment in the exhibition has been carefully chosen to enable the Museum to represent the incredible range of textile designs created by the firm as well as to present an argument about why Liberty is always ‘in fashion’”.

Celia Joicey, Head of the Fashion and Textile Museum, said:
“Liberty in Fashion is a celebration of one of Britain’s most imaginative stores, not only an internationally celebrated retailer but also a design studio and tastemaker. The exhibition explores how a brand that is closely steeped in British tradition can also represent the avant-garde in fashion and inspire contemporary design talent.”

Ed Burstell, Managing Director, Liberty London, said:
“Liberty is one of the last great emporiums of its kind and I am thrilled that this exhibition is being organised by Zandra Rhodes and the Fashion and Textile Museum London, a museum which has pioneered displays on the relationship between fashion, fabric design and innovative British retailing.” 

Liberty: Great Marlborough Street, London W1B 5AH. Liberty is one of the last great emporiums for innovative and eclectic design. Founded by Sir Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1875, it remains to this day the destination of choice for the savvy and sophisticated shopper. Arthur Liberty’s intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele. Liberty is not just a name above the door, it is Arthur Liberty’s legacy, which stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed product. At Liberty, explore five floors of fashion, beauty, accessories, childrenswear, homewares and furniture where we combine our rich heritage with the cutting edge and avant-garde. 

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FASHION AND TEXTILE MUSEUM
Adres: 83 Bermondsey St
London SE1 3XF,United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7407 8664
http://www.ftmlondon.org