It has been said that when you own Liberty of London fabric, you own artwork. People revere it for both its quality and its design.

You don’t have to travel to London to purchase a length of this lovely cotton. (Although the trip might be more fun!) You can buy Liberty of London fabric in USA; in fact, you can buy Liberty fabrics online right here at Missouri Star.

You might be wondering who makes Liberty of London fabric? To answer that question, it would be good to begin with some Liberty of London fabric history.

Liberty was founded by its namesake, Arthur Lasenby Liberty. He began his career as an apprentice at a lace warehouse and linen draper. In 1862 he took a position with a London company famous for its selection of textiles from India. Arthur was promoted to manager and became known for his ability to source fine textiles, rugs, furniture, and other goods from the Far East. In 1875, he took a small loan from his father-in-law and opened Liberty & Co. Arthur began importing undyed silk fabric and working with artists and manufacturers in England to color and finish the fabric. This positioned Liberty as a leader in the Art Nouveau movement.

When people ask, what is Liberty fabric? Most commonly the answer is Tana Lawn–named for Lake Tana in Sudan where the raw cotton was originally sourced. It wasn’t until after Arthur Liberty’s death in 1917 and the end of WWI that Liberty produced this iconic Liberty London fabric which has been its staple since the 1920’s. Tana Lawn is made from ultrafine, long-staple cotton. Its fibers can be woven densely, creating cloth that is strong but light, soft, and silky. Although Tana Lawn™ is the most iconic of the Liberty fabrics, it is most suitable for garments like shirts, dresses, and sleepwear. Therefore, Liberty has created another line of fabric, its Lasenby Quilting Cotton, specifically for quilting and homegoods.

What is so special about Liberty fabric? Whether they are designing fabric for dress goods or home goods, Liberty sets itself apart by using the highest quality cotton and best manufacturing techniques. The result is fabric that is remarkably smooth and soft to touch.

Another reason Liberty of London fabrics are unique is the skill and artistry of the Liberty fabric designers who hand-paint up to 40 new designs each season, drawing inspiration from an archive of 50,000 previous designs. The patterns in Liberty of London fabric are saturated with color and often use a greater variety of colors than other fabrics. Liberty fabrics often feature intricate floral or paisley patterns and frequently offer small prints ideal for small quilt pieces.

Liberty fabrics London often collaborates with contemporary fashion, interior, and furniture designers and artists of all types–including quilters! Liberty has partnered with Riley Blake Designs to offer Liberty of London quilting cotton. Liberty’s cotton for quilting has a substantial, sturdy feel that is delightful to work with. Riley Blake Designs is the exclusive distributor of Liberty quilting fabric in the USA. Missouri Star is proud to collaborate with Riley Blake Designs to offer Liberty fabrics to our customers. You may purchase Liberty fabric by the yard or Liberty of London fabric bundles such as Liberty fabric fat quarters at Missouri Star. You might also consider a purchase of Liberty of London fabric by the yard for a special garment that you or a loved one would treasure.

Quilting and sewing are art forms. If you choose Liberty of London fabrics, you create a work of art with fabrics that are–themselves–pieces of art.