What is Liberty Fabrics?

Liberty or Liberty of London is a long standing and renowned fabrics company that's been stocking avant-garde textiles and innovating fabric production for over a hundred years. They’re now leading the industry as an international wholesale business, working with retailers, brands and designers to manufacture womenswear, menswear, child wear and homeware.

First opened by Arthur Liberty in 1875, son of a draper from Buckinghamshire, Liberty fabrics are now a household name in the textile industry. Arthur Liberty moved to London in 1862 and began his professional experience working at Farmer & Rogers, a cloak and shawl emporium on Regent Street. This period showcased new and unfamiliar developments, aesthetics, and styles from all across the world. In fact, 1862, the first year of Arthur Liberty’s professional career coincided with the year of the International Exhibition which, sponsored by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Trade featured over 28,000 exhibitors from 36 different countries. For the first time in Europe the exhibition showcased a Japanese Pavilion, which became hugely popular with visitors. Farmer & Rogers bought a lot of the Japanese goods featured at the exhibition and opened their own Oriental Warehouse, which Arthur Liberty was given the task of managing. The Oriental Warehouse soon became the most profitable part of the business. By 1975, inspired by over ten years of experience with fabrics and textiles, Arthur Liberty decided to start a business of his own. With a £2,000 loan from his future father-in-law, he accepted the lease of half a shop at 218a Regent Street with only three staff members. The shop launched stocking ornaments, fabrics and objects d’art from Japan and the far East. Liberty’s inventory selection and retail management generated exponential profit and his store became popular within months.

He stocked desirable and captivating fabrics attracting the attention of designers and fabric retailers and customers soon after his launch. People all across London would come to Arthur Liberty’s store to find the latest trend and the newest fabric designs. This is not to mention that a number of client’s already familiar with Arthur Liberty’s work at Farmer & Rogers’ Oriental Warehouse, including notable artists like Whistler, Rossetti and William Morris, continued their association and business with Arthur Liberty even after his departure.

“Liberty is the chosen resort of the artist shopper.”
Oscar Wilde

These connections and associations allowed Liberty to not only echo the artistic and aesthetic movements of the time, but to also contribute and innovate the styles produced during this period. Britain’s prolonged exposure to designs and aesthetics from the East influenced a shift in fashion and fabric preference. Consequently, lightweight, and delicate fabrics were in demand and Arthur Liberty saw an opportunity to produce in house textiles, producing and manufacturing different types of fabrics experimenting with different materials. Soon Liberty wasn't just producing textiles, he started manufacturing furniture, fashioning dresses and much more.

“I was determined not to follow existing fashions but to create new ones”
Arthur Lasenby Liberty

Liberty wares were in high demand and soon customers from all over the country, if not the world wanted their houses furnished with Liberty and their attire sewn with Liberty Fabrics. Today, every thread of Liberty Fabrics is the product of a bespoke production process; hand drawn by a visionary in-house design team, printed in Italian factories, and carefully cared for by skilled technicians who oversee the production of over 150 different designs a year.

We’re so honoured to stock Liberty Fabrics and we’re one of the very few London based retailers that are owed this privilege.