"Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his shop on Regent Street in 1875 selling imported textiles from Japan, China and India. During the 1870s the Aesthetic Movement was at its height and the followers of this art movement were Liberty's most important customers. Arthur's ideas chimed with theirs when he wanted to influence the public taste by giving them the opportunity to buy beautiful things that were also affordable.
He therefore quickly started selling more than just textiles, and customers came to him for anything from Japanese fans, screens and wallpapers to blue and white pottery from China, inlaid boxes and wooden carvings from India and Persian metalwork and rugs. Fabrics, however, were the most important part of his stock, and, as soon as he was able to, this is where he began the production of exclusive styles.
He approached Thomas Wardle, the dyer and printer in Leek, Staffordshire, who had earlier collaborated with William Morris on redeveloping vegetable dyes. Wardle created new dyes for Liberty's imported silks which became an instant success and would become known as 'Liberty Art Colours'. These lovely silks in all hues and shades hung in Liberty's windows in Regent Street and were written about in the newspapers of the day."
From The Liberty Book of Home Sewing
This is so timely for this year in my life. I have rediscovered Tana lawns and have made myself 3 dresses and my granddaughter two tops + cushions for her dollhouse from tiny sample squares (courtesy of Lynne, Dovegrey reader) I think I will treat myself to the book even though some of the projects sound suspiciously twee.
Posted by: Erika | 29 September 2011 at 12:57 PM
I've not been in Liberty's for years but how I used to love it and the joy of making a summer frock from Tana lawn. Ah les beaux jours . . .
Posted by: B R Wombat | 29 September 2011 at 02:32 PM