The iconic British heritage brand Liberty is celebrating 150 years – we take a glimpse into how they create some of the world's most beloved fabric designs

The doyen of art and design since 1875, the iconic British band Liberty, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this week. The London, Regent Street store is beloved and visited by millions, not least for the dazzling showmanship of the Grade II-listed Tudor building; a true London icon.

Many of their most famed prints bear the imprint of distinguished and highly celebrated creative minds, and for the last 150 years, it has been a magnet for artists, designers, and aesthetes. They have serious design pedigree, and as such, they have led the way in establishing new fabric trends and shaping the landscape of interior design trends as a whole.

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Liberty has launched a new collection, 'The House of Liberty' – an interior fabric and wallpaper collection drawing inspiration from key moments throughout Liberty’s past. Genevieve Bennett, Head of Design Interiors for Liberty, has worked for the brand since 2019, and I spoke to her about the significance of Liberty Fabric’s 150th anniversary.

Liberty has certainly earned its enviable reputation as a veritable authority in the design world; in many ways, it feels as though it has been around forever. It is difficult to distill precisely why Liberty has made a mark on so many of us in such a profound way; many of us have a sense of wistful nostalgia when we think of Liberty, and our associations with this beloved heritage brand can feel somewhat personal.

Over the last century and a half, Liberty has forged a distinctive style and has come to embody the cutting edge of design and first-rate craftsmanship. Those flat shapes of board florals, verdant botanical prints, sensual Art Nouveau works, and retro, ditzy ornamental patterns. Liberty’s fabrics can be found at the intersection of art, illustration, and decoration, and it has managed to secure this position for 150 years and counting. I asked Genevieve why this anniversary means so much to her and to those who love these works.

‘As we look back over the 150 years, Liberty’s iconic legacy of artistry and craftsmanship is ubiquitous across so many of the key artistic movements and collaborations, earning our reputation as a key leader and innovator in the design sphere,' Genevieve explains. ‘So many people have a story or memory associated with Liberty and the store, whether this be a fabric they used to wear as a child, or even a first magical trip to the store. There is a certain sense of comfort, connection, and creativity attached to Liberty.’

There are few other interior brands in the world with such a sense of continuity, of the past preserved, that makes the present more special. A huge part of this magic lies in Liberty’s remarkably rich history and staggering 60,000-strong print archive.

‘The Liberty archive is one of our most treasured assets and inspires so much of our creative output,’ Genevieve tells me. ‘We’re so lucky to have such a rich collection of archival assets at our fingertips that it makes it almost impossible not to find constant moments of inspiration.’

Nowadays, this archive has been digitized so the Liberty team can search for and find any design or style with the click of a button. Although happily, they regularly visit the main archive in Oxfordshire to see it all in the flesh.

Genevieve explains, ‘Among our most prized pieces in the archive are some of the first ever furnishing fabrics produced by Liberty. They are unbelievably beautiful, featuring cuttings and fragments of cottons, wool, and linens from Japan and India. We used these as inspiration for several of our House of Liberty anniversary designs.’

‘We will often reference small fragments of the inventory – whether this be archival fabric swatches, historical paintings, or design sketchbooks - as the basis of our new collections and designs.’ she explains.

‘Our designers are immensely talented at reimaging archival materials with a contemporary eye, altering scale, color or proportions to rework our established heritage for modern interiors. Sometimes, we find a fragment of something wonderful, but there are only very few pieces of it, so we’ll fill in the missing parts. Other times, we’ll repaint and reimagine a motif in a completely different style – much of this is invisible work but requires an immensely talented body of designers.’

It's easy to find yourself enamored with the enormous array of historic archival pieces, and of course, the immense collection is imbued with the ghosts of British luminaries. I asked Geneive who some of the key figures who influenced the Liberty look were.

‘Liberty is blessed to have such a diverse community of voices that have shaped our creative evolution across both past and present. This ranges from key protagonists such as intellectuals, artists, designers, and creatives to music legends, models, actors, poets, and writers. A personal favorite of mine is the designs by Winifred Mold, who was the first female designer to be employed by Silver Studio, where she worked between 1912-1935. She was a highly versatile designer across both furnishing and fashion fabrics, incorporating a wide range of motifs and subject matters.’

'There are so many key figures through history from May Morris, Jessie M King, Sonia Delaunay, Barbara Brown, Lucienne Day, through to our present-day design team, which proudly spotlights so many talented creatives. Our daily work is a vibrant fusion of instinct, passion, discovery, and the ambition to craft textiles that enhance the lives of everyone who wears or surrounds themselves with them.’

As well as a rich history, though, Liberty is very much a modern company that looks forward as well as backwards. That must be a tricky balancing act. I asked Genevieve how such a prestigious and historic company can both honor their rich heritage and innovate and create modern, fresh designs.

‘We’re always looking outwards,’ Genevieve explains. ‘There are many tricks to this simultaneous flow, one is to not simply constantly reproduce archival designs but to allow enough time in the development of a collection to carry out in-depth and varied research into the contextual influences in combination with our pattern stories. The result of this is hopefully something that hints at historical elements but is unique and contemporary.’

‘To us, looking forward and backwards go hand-in-hand, as we reimagine our history with a refreshed outlook and contemporary lens. The rooms in which we insert these fabrics are a key piece of the puzzle. We are constantly looking at amazing spaces and interior designers who inspire us around the world. One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing our fabrics fully realised in real spaces as they complete their design journey; I am always amazed by the fantastic combinations and unexpected uses, which makes my work a real joy.’

To celebrate the anniversary, there will be an exhibition ‘I Am. We Are. Liberty' at the London store from 9th May - 24th July. The exhibition will invite guests to delve into the Liberty archive of more than 60,000 pattern books, paintings, and drawings, collated since the 1880s.

If you are based in the States and unable to see the exhibition in the flesh, it's worth keeping an eye out for Design. Pattern. Color. A wonderful, glossy hardback book highlighting over 200 of the most striking and significant Liberty designs, ranging from instantly recognisable florals, to bold and abstract designs, and contemporary collaborations – launching in the US 17^th June 2025.

Add some Liberty whimsy to your home

If you do find yourself in London with a free afternoon this Summer, this exhibition (which is free to enter) is well worth a visit, especially if you are an interiors or design enthusiast.

I was lucky enough to attend the preview, and for those interested in textiles, pattern, or even just design and aesthetics as a whole, will be thrilled by the beauty and history displayed here. If you aren't able to, it's worth bearing in mind that Liberty continues to broaden its presence in the US through its supplier Fabricut, and recent partnerships with Nordstrom and all of their new product launches are available for US shipping.