Liberty ideas

Now I have finally decided on pursuing the Liberty brief I can begin to really solidify ideas and to also look into what type of aesthetic fits this prestigious company. 

Firstly I feel it is important to look into the background of Liberty of London simply because of it's historical stature in the retail community. 

The story of Liberty goes back to before its actual opening in 1875 and it really starts with the stores founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty. He was employed by Messrs Farmer and Rogers on regent Street in 1862, the year that the international exhibition was held in London that was curated to promote British designers and craftsmen. Most notably William Morris was a huge success in this exhibition and it was the main launch pad for his career and design house that is still carrying on his work after his death. 

 Over ten years after starting his place at Regent Street, Arthur Liberty was inspired enough by his experience there to try and start up his own business with the belief that he could change the look of homewards and fashion. Which he undoubtedly did when he opened the doors to Liberty of London in 1875.  

He began with a £2000 loan from his future father in law and with this he bought one half of a building on Regent Street. Within eighteen months he had repaid the loan and bought the other half of the original building, following this the business just grew and grew and neighbouring buildings were acquired to house the growing range of homeware, fashion, millenary and other beautiful object d'art.   

The store quickly became the most popular place to shop in London with a wide range of exotic clientele due to the new trends they stocked. The store was integral to the promotion of the Arts and Crafts movement and also to Art Nouveau. 

The iconic Tudor style building that we know today was designed by the architect Edwin T. Hall at the height of the tudor revival in the 1920's. According to Liberty's website, The building was designed around three light wells that formed the main focal point of the building. Arthur Liberty wanted the architecture to feel homely and as if you were walking around your own home when you came to spend money at his store, therefore each of these larger rooms separate into smaller spaces to create this feel. At the beginning many of the rooms also had large fireplaces to further his homely intention even more. 

Unfortunately Arthur Liberty did not live long enough to see the his full dream realised but the shop has always stayed true to his original ideas, where they created a shopping environment that is both exciting, luxurious and homely.  

Since the post war years Liberty of London has gone from strength to strength, Still promoting up and coming designers and staying true to its creators vision. 

http://www.liberty.co.uk/AboutLiberty/article/fcp-content