Liberty (department store)

Liberty is known around the world for its close connection to art and culture, but it is most famous for its bold and floral print fabrics.

The vast mock-Tudor store also sells men's, women's and children's fashion, beauty and homewares from a mix of high-end and emerging brands and labels.

With a £2,000 loan from his future father-in-law, in 1875, he accepted the lease of half a shop at 218a Regent Street with three staff members.

Liberty's specialised in Oriental goods, in particular imported Indian silks, and the aim of the display was to generate both publicity and sales for the store.

[6] In 1889, Oscar Wilde, a regular client of the store, wrote "Liberty's is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper".

The company became associated with this new style, to the extent that in Italy, Art Nouveau became known as the Stile Liberty, after the London shop.

[10] Subsequent shops opened in Bath, Brighton, Chester, York, Kingston upon Thames, Exeter and Norwich.

During the 1960s, extravagant and Eastern influences once again became fashionable, as well as the Art Deco style, and Liberty adapted its furnishing designs from its archive.

[12] In 2019 BlueGem sold their controlling (40%) stake to a consortium of private equity groups led by Glendower Capital.

[15][16] The documentary follows Ed Burstell (Managing Director) and the department's retail team in the busy lead up to Christmas 2013.

Recent collaborations include brands such as Scott Henshall, Nike, Dr. Martens, Hello Kitty, Barbour, House of Hackney, Vans, Onia, Manolo Blahnik, Uniqlo, J.Crew, Superga, Target and T. M. Lewin.

View from Argyll Street .
Liberty art fabrics advertisement, May 1888