The Making Of: The Liberty Store

The Liberty store started in 1875, but has been in the same location since 1885 it stands alone on the street with its distinguishing architecture steeped in so much history. It feels like you’re entering more of a grand cottage in the 19th Century than a department store in the center of London steeped in the tradition of fashion and eclectic design.

Growing up in London I remember making countless trips to Regent Street to spend hours in the Liberty Store. The magic of this grand department store begins before you even enter. The store includes everything from fashions, to classic home decor, but their unique fabrics are where I find my inspiration.

I would pour over the yards of Liberty Print fabrics imagining the intricate work and inspiration that went into each and the piece of clothing I might be able to make one day out of the cloth. Arthur Liberty was a contributor to the Art Nouveau movement and it is well reflected in the prints that adorn some of his most famous fabrics.

They are truly each works of art before they are even made into anything else. I could honestly just buy pieces of fabric and stare at them for hours. I’d usually manage to sneak away with some stationary covered in my favorite prints (the only thing my piggy bank could afford at that young age), which would provide countless hours of day dreaming inspiration while I was at school thinking about all that magic fabric back at the store. Just to think, if I could have free reign over the place, all the things I would make!

So you can imagine how delighted I was now, as a maternity designer to actually be able to use one of Liberty’s famous fabrics in my own spring collection. 

The print is so beautiful in itself I wanted to cut it into classic, everyday pieces that allow the print to be showcased first and foremost complemented by classic very easy to wear silhouettes. There are 2 pieces in my new collection that feature this fabric. The first is The Liberty Shirt, it features a mandarin collar with cut-away detail, gold metal shank buttons and 3/4 length sleeves with gathering at the cuff. The Liberty Shirt can be worn day in and day out and always bring a smile to your face.

The Liberty Pocket Front Shirt Dress features a self-fabric belt and functional buttons down the front. This dress will become one of your favorite dresses this season and beyond as it’s the perfect combination of comfort and style.

These 2 pieces in my Spring 2012 collection do, after all, capture a bit of fashion history that I hope you’ll keep forever. It is not often we get to own such timeless works of art and I am so proud of this collaboration between Liberty and Rosie Pope Maternity.

Tags: liberty of london, maternity fashion, maternity style