Liberty of London

The Liberty Shop in London is celabrating 140 years! It was in 1875, that Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened a shop on Regent Street with just three dedicated staff. Arthur borrowed the 2000 pounds from his future father-in-law to finance the purchase of the shop. Sadly Arthur died in 1917 before the shop was fully completed as we see it today.

In the 1890's Liberty produced its first collection of childrenswear based around the illustrations of popular artist Kate Greenaway.

1920 saw the introduction of their famous Tana Lawn fabric. The name comes from Lake Tana in East Africa where the original cotton was grown.

The mock-Tudor building on Great Marlborough Street is constructed from the timbers of two ships, HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan. The frontage that still stands is the same length as the Hindustan.

                                                                Happy Birthday Liberty!