The timeless par excellence, the Liberty pattern
Fresh, subtle, romantic as can be, the Liberty print is undoubtedly one of the most famous floral patterns. Its bucolic charm plays with eras and trends. Close-up on Liberty, this printed fabric that has become an iconic summer pattern.
What is the Liberty pattern?
A multi-colored floral
Liberty is a variety of multicolor floral pattern printed all-over. It is characterized by the repetition of a multitude of flowers, dense and closely spaced, so as to occupy the entire surface of a textile. A bit like a field of flowers or an English garden that goes on forever... This classic blooms during the sunny days, often swarming on cotton or even silk fabrics.
Still popular, liberty patterns seem timeless. Their timeless style not only inspires fashion but also stationery, decoration... Ready-to-wear, furnishing fabrics, wallpaper or accessories, nothing can resist them!
Textile brand or pattern style?
Both ! Originally reserved for the creations of the eponymous brand, the name “liberty” has become a popular reference. Often revisited or diverted, the liberty style describes a large category of patterns which constitutes an inexhaustible source of inspiration for designers.
There are therefore a multitude of varieties of different liberty prints. All represent a seedling of very colorful flowers, most of the time evenly distributed. The term being a seller, it has become generalized to the point of encompassing all kinds of all-over floral patterns, sometimes very far from the original liberty style.
Liberty style, a space of freedom for designers
The enormous advantage of Liberty is that it can be “imitated” in a classic way, but also diverted to creatively stick to trends. Flower Power has not said its last word! Abstract or detailed, naive or worthy of a botanical work, anything goes. Country flowers, undergrowth flowers, roses, dahlias, daisies and poppies or forget-me-nots bloom freely on fabrics to invite daydreaming. The “flower seedlings” theme allows all variations of colors, sizes and all graphic styles!
Liberty department store in London at the end of the 19th century
The rich history of this essential pattern
At the origin of Liberty, an inspired man
Before becoming a pattern, and even a decorative style, Liberty was a family name. That of an English merchant, who noticed a long time ago a trend that would prove lasting...
We are in Great Britain, in 1875, at the height of the emergence of the Art Nouveau phenomenon. Arthur Lasenby Liberty, a draper by trade, has the brilliant idea of setting up a luxury boutique in the heart of London specializing in the sale of decorative objects and fabrics imported from Asia.
In a Europe fascinated by the Orient, the “Liberty of London” concept hit the mark and quickly became a thriving business. Good London society is infatuated with these exotic fantasies, right in the spirit of the times. The store expanded, the use of the fabrics offered extended to making clothes.
About ten years later, Liberty decided to import the raw textiles to have them dyed and printed in Great Britain. He named his products Liberty Art Fabrics, without knowing that his name would remain engraved in the history of textile patterns and fashion.
The influence of Liberty in fashion and decorative arts
The explosion of Art Nouveau and the omnipresence of floral patterns at the end of the 19th century contributed to the success of Liberty patterns in Europe. In Italy, we speak of Art Nouveau as Stile Liberty, in homage to the famous English textile store.
From then on, these floral prints exerted a great influence on fashion and the decorative arts. At the beginning of the 20th century, the fashion designer Paul Poiret integrated them into his creations, followed by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1960s. The Cacharel brand adopted liberty as the central theme of its ready-to-wear collections, thus participating to its democratization in France.
The special signs of Liberty floral fabrics
It is commonly accepted that a liberty style print can be recognized by the profusion of multicolored flowers it displays and the finesse of its patterns. These statements are correct, but they are not enough to differentiate an authentic liberty fabric from most all-over floral prints. So, how do you really recognize a true Liberty creation?
To find out, you have to use your sense of touch. Liberty designs have built their reputation on their originality, but also on their high-end quality. To produce its collections, Liberty of London has since the beginning favored a very specific variety of Ethiopian cotton. This exceptional fiber makes it possible to weave a fabric called “Tana Lawn”, for which Liberty has the exclusivity. This still current manufacturing process has made Liberty fabrics textile specialties renowned for being as soft, fine and light as silk.
In addition, a real Liberty fabric is most often made up of 12 to 18 different colors and its patterns are visible on the front and back of the textile.
Finally, certain classic Liberty patterns have become so emblematic of the brand that they are constantly reissued. Named Betsy or Wiltshire, these essential references have been available for a long time in different ranges of classic or updated colors, but always with just as much success.
Liberty House archives
Our advice for enhancing your outfits with the Liberty pattern
Liberty for every occasion
We come across it in women's or men's locker rooms: today liberty can be displayed on everyone and everywhere, without distinction of gender. It is also a textile pattern perfectly suited to children's fashion, with this little dapper side, "fresh and chic, but not stuffy" which appeals to all ages.
Its charm shines through on any occasion, to accompany jeans, dress pants or summer shorts with the same elegance. If liberty has become a classic, it is because it knows how to remain discreet, especially when it is made up of very small flowers. But this timeless piece can be revisited in a more playful, original and offbeat way, depending on its range of colors or the type of flowers... Not banal, the liberty pattern can also be used on a strong piece, where we would not didn't expect it, such as a feminine pantsuit set.
Appreciated day and night, it is among the most regularly used patterns on fabrics intended to become lingerie pieces, pajama sets, nightgowns, camisoles and bathrobes.
Keep your hand light
The visual impact of these delicate flowers is not a question of quantity, it is quite the opposite! A liberty piece is often the ideal choice to soften a look, so it is important to use the floral pattern well. Integrated into an outfit, this romantic pattern is even more pleasant when used sparingly. With the exception of bohemian dresses, pantsuits or playsuits generally available in flowing materials... Light models, to which a little liberty allover can add even more charm.
Subtlety remains essential: yes to the freshness of a pink floral top or a liberty shirt, to the originality of printed pants or a skirt, yes to the femininity of floral accessories, but never everything at once !
The liberty pattern : alone or accompanied?
You have understood, the total liberty look is a daring option, but also risky. It is often through simple touches, discreet or more assertive, that the liberty pattern releases the full aesthetic potential of its pretty flowers without falling into excess. By ensuring that the colors match each other and being sober, it is almost as easy to combine this pretty pattern with plains as with other types of prints, such as stripes or checks for example!
Liberty fashion accessories
Using liberty without overdoing it is exactly what the accessories allow. When it is not adorning a scarf, a tie, a pocket square or a bow tie, the liberty print can brighten up an outfit in the form of a bracelet, a belt... With it, the tote bag takes another dimension. Used as a lining, it is this refined detail that enhances a raffia bag or a wicker shopping bag. In summer, it is welcome on a pair of fabric sandals, or adds a delicate touch to a simple pair of canvas espadrilles!