Liberty—an icon of design innovation and luxury—is renowned internationally for fabric designs on silk, wool, cashmere and, most famously, Tana Lawn™ Cotton. Gathered here are 150 of the most striking and significant Liberty patterns, ranging from much-loved florals to bold and abstract designs and contemporary collaborations.
Published to mark Liberty’s 150th anniversary, this beautifully produced book places fabrics in the context of the store’s wider design history—from the retailer’s remarkable Tudor Revival building to posters, advertising, and branding. It presents the very latest examples of Liberty design alongside prints, drawings, and samples from the company’s outstanding archive, telling an inspiring, century-long story of manufacturing quality and design excellence.
Reviews
Kassia St. Clair explores [Liberty’s] historical connection to artists and art movements [and] emphasizes Liberty’s larger role in shaping visual culture in Britain and beyond. The book is a visual feast of signature fabric designs from the 1880s to today, and offers readers a longer view of the company’s evolution through time.
— Hyperallergic
Over 275 colorful photos showcase artists and designers at work, sketches from the Liberty archives, and 150 textile patterns. These are alternately bold, sweet, and mesmerizing and often feature different colorways. Visually appealing on many levels, this book will be of special interest for graphic designers and those who work with textiles.
— Library Journal
Liberty’s unmatched legacy in textile design comes vividly to life in [this] visual celebration of 150 iconic prints spanning delicate florals to daring abstractions. Cultural historian Kassia St Clair contextualizes these patterns within Liberty’s broader design history… Archival treasures and contemporary collaborations trace the evolution of a fabric house whose resounding influence on the visual language of textiles has practically elevated it into a cultural institution.
— Galerie
Contributors
Kassia St Clair
Author
Kassia St Clair is a writer, cultural historian, and color expert. She is the best-selling author of The Secret Lives of Color and The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History.
