I finally watched the TV programme about Liberty of London last night. It aired on Monday here in the UK but these days I hardly watch any TV in ‘real time’! I found it fascinating (and moving in parts, the scenes with the 70-year-old Shukla who has worked at Liberty for 40 years almost brought a tear to my eye) especially as I interviewed the MD, Ed Burstell, last year about his vision for Liberty and the need for retail theatre on the high street.
Liberty has always been one of my favourite London stores. Founded in 1875, the magnificent Tudor building itself is such a treat to wander around, even it there weren’t delectable products on every shelf and rail. Easier to navigate than the vast retail emporiums that are Selfridges and Harrods, it may lack the uber-cool of Harvey Nichols but the atmosphere seems somehow warmer and more inviting. Its carefully edited beauty, lingerie and footwear (the Manolo Blahnik collaboration was pure genius) departments are arguably the best you’ll find anywhere in London and I love that Liberty has held onto its history as a leading textile design house and has not been swayed to ditch the more traditional elements of the store, such as its haberdashery department.
The highlight of the first installment of the three-part series for me was without a doubt Grayson Perry proclaiming that Liberty is the store “for people who find John Lewis too beige”.
A Spoonful of Style 
Lovely! I will check out the show. Of course, no one ever argues with Manolo Blahnik….. Best – Shanna
That’s true! The shoes are so gorgeous. X
Gorgeous pics – I am going to try to find this – hopefully BBC America will air it soon!
Fingers crossed! You’ll love it. X
Wow! I’ve been seen the inside of that store and it’s so lovely! I hope it comes to BBC America!
It is a beautiful store, so quirky and elegant at the same time. X
Miss Liberty! Surely on American TV after airing the Mr Selfridge series so recently, this will follow…I do hope so.
Fingers crossed. I’m looking forward to the second instalment next week. X
Loved the show! Will hopefully be visiting Liberty next week, never been before so I’m pretty excited! 🙂
You will love it! The store looks so pretty at Christmas time. X
Was fabulous wasn’t it, always inspiring. And how I love Grayson Perry!
I watched the show on catchup today and, I did shed a tear! I couldn’t believe it, I could feel myself welling up and then, before I knew it, a big fat tear was rolling down my cheek. I love that shop, I once tried to get an on spec job there, ah..those would have been the days.
Few years ago, there as a program on Next Big Thing, I think it was called, upcoming designers coming for the open day. They showed their products to Liberty, Habitat and Boots. It was amazing to see the journey in the whole series. Not sure if it is somewhere still in archives, but worth to watch too.
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I loved the series (I think it’s finished now?)
And as you write above, theatre is important, but it’s the lasting impression/experience one remembers that will keep the luxury retailers in the ‘whoa shit they’re amazing’ bracket x
I think I had a Liberty of London blouse in high school and wore it to death. Great post.
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