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Hand-Stitched Stories: The Patchwork Collective
Explore the inspirations, reminiscence and patchwork histories behind our 150th anniversary creation
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Hand-Stitched Stories: The Patchwork Collective
Explore the inspirations, reminiscence and patchwork histories behind our 150th anniversary creation
For 150 years, Liberty’s story has been woven alongside the artistic movement: a voyage of creativity and discovery through past, present and future that shaped the fabric of our DNA.
To celebrate Liberty’s 150th anniversary in 2025, this history is coming to life. Over the course of three months, we invited our network of artisans, makers, designers and visionaries from across the globe to help us create a new, collaborative artwork: The Patchwork Collective, a supersize patchwork house on display in Liberty’s Tudor Halls from May – July 2025, representing Liberty’s patchwork living history.
With over 1,500 submissions from the brands and designers that call Liberty home, the artists that count us as a kindred spirit and individuals whose stories, loves, lives and families are bound together by memories of Liberty: each patch has a story to tell.
Stitch by stitch, this weaves together to illustrate the skill and history of Liberty’s remarkable artistic network, helping begin the next chapter of Liberty’s history. An artistic moment, a creative endeavour and a collaborative reflection all at once: at its heart, The Patchwork Collective is a physical manifestation of the creativity, community, values and talent that make Liberty, Liberty.
Here, we’re sharing a small snapshot of the moments that moved us, and a handful of the squares submitted as part of the project. To discover more, head to the First Floor at Liberty to experience the installation first hand.
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"My Patchwork Collective square is inspired by the building itself. The background is an abstraction of the façade, making reference to the black and white neo-half timbering and rectangular gables. The goldwork makes reference to the building's jewellery, specifically the dry riser valve in the main south stair.
I wanted to make something that represented many of the things that I love about Liberty; being an Architect, of course the architecture, but also the sense of craft, attention to detail, and superb quality. Liberty also remains unique and exclusive to London - looking both to the past and future. I have also used Liberty fabric scraps left over from projects I have made. When I see my square I think not only of the fabric but the people and places connected to these projects." Pat West
"Liberty has been in my life for a long time. As a child living in Japan, I knew that there was a shop called Liberty in London, the place I dreamt to visit one day. At the turn of the century, I came to the UK to study, but not in London. However, when I visited London, I dropped by and admired the beauty of the building.
I bought the first birthday present for my husband (then boyfriend) from Liberty. The present was a scarf that included the blue colour I used in the embroidery of 'Liberty 150'. So fast- forward a quarter of a century, now, I live in London and I often visit Liberty. It is a place of my dream and happiness." Kumiko Hargreaves
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"To move into the future you need the knowledge of the past. Our grandfather was The Cook on the Mayflower II (1957) [as depicted on Liberty's golden weathervane]. This connection and my love for everything Liberty inspired this Mayflower II Liberty patchwork design." Pip Godfrey
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"My grandmother Amie, my mother Moira, my daughter Anna and I have all loved visiting Liberty over many decades. I wanted to make a log cabin block to remember our relationships with each other and to Liberty." Josephine Willows
"Just as the iconic world of Liberty spans time, my piece uses threads from my late mum's collection, drawn by my daughter and stitched by myself. Three ladies from the same family, three generations expressed on one square! Liberty spans and inspires past and present generations.
[Liberty is] Inspiration of artistic creativity, quality and design. Bringing together cultures and traditions far and wide. A magical place to run wild with expression and excitement all in one place! Encompassing wonderment and luxury with rich history. A sweetshop for the creative!" Lynda Banks
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"The fabric of my life. My life, in many ways, can be traced through the fabrics I've used and the projects I've created. This quilt square represents significant milestones in my life, all connected to Liberty fabrics. The pattern, called Sister's Choice, was the very first patchwork design I used when I started quilting at 14.
The four darker squares in the middle are made from the fabric I used for my bridesmaids dresses - one of which was for my sister. The pink sweet pea design was the fabric for a maternity dress I wore while expecting my first child. After having three children, my husband started his business and money was tight. I returned to work, taking a job in the fabric department at Liberty. Edinburgh, for about a year. The dark navy fabric with white flowers was from a dress I made in the mid-1990s while working there. The fabric framing this square comes from a short sleeved blouse I made, which had a matching ribbon for my sunhat. I wore both during a trip to Zimbabwe where my husband went for a job interview. It was also the first time we had to leave our children overnight with family for several days.
The label was added as the name instantly reminds me of all the things I have seen bought and done. I even did a day's sewing course on Christening dresses that I travelled to London especially for. I added a little embellishment as I felt that the beautiful designs speak for themselves. Each piece of fabric in this square holds a story, weaving together the memories of my life."
Catriona Smith, Edinburgh (Facade A, C21)
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"I have always loved Liberty design. It contains beauty, creativity and just a hint of anarchy, born at a time when the world was changing and distinctive design was valued. When I began working in London, I used to find solace wandering through the store admiring the range of items from around the world united by a strong sense of creativity: gorgeous and practical. Liberty fabric and clothing has represented a sense of freedom to wear and create what I love rather than being enslaved to popular fashion. I loved the pairing of hard-wearing denim with delicate lawn in the 1980s.
More recently, it has sustained me through a particularly bleak period of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment: when everything that made me feel feminine was stripped away by mastectomy and chemotherapy, I wrapped my ruined head and body in Liberty fabric and clothes. I found comfort physically and mentally in a gorgeous orange 'Tree of Life' Scarf in silk twill. Then, I wound it round my bald head; now, I enjoy wearing it round my neck as a symbol of survival." Sophie Bankes
"It was a delight to design a square bringing together Glastonbury Festival, Oshana and Liberty of London. A quick chat on the phone between Emily Eavis, co-organiser of the festival, and Oshana, who work with Syrian refugee women through embroidery, and we knew we wanted to create something that represented our shared values, with the word 'liberty' in its sense of 'freedom' front and centre. It had to reflect the commitment to creativity and craft at the heart of all three of us. So: 'peace, equality, love & liberty', with a border of traditional Arabic embroidery motifs, on one of our favourite Liberty prints. It's the world we believe in." Emily Eavis & Oshana
"The design was inspired by my grandfather Gilbert Horace Andrews. Gilbert was a Master Carpenter and worked on the iconic woodwork at the Liberty store on Regent Street in the early 1920s. I wanted to pay homage to the woodwork in my design and chose the Pelican finial on the 3rd floor, flanked by wood posts and panels. I love Liberty and going to the store reminds me of my grandfather every time I visit. If only he knew that over 100 years after he'd worked there, I was still visiting the store, admiring the woodwork and buying and using Liberty fabric! Liberty is a very special place."
Rosemary Woolf, Hampshire (Facade A, I19)
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"I created a patchwork block that combines the past and the future; the old and the new. Craftsmanship from 1875 and from 2025. I wanted '150 years of Liberty' to be obvious in my block. Finding this beautiful stamp on the Liberty website made the decision easy for me! Finding a doable way to make this with fabric... not so easy! I succeeded on the third attempt! Then I spent many hours cutting and sewing. I love the fresh flowery background in contrast to the black-and-white stamp. Everything is done by hand." Christine Louise Schoon-Fortuin
"My patch is inspired by an embroidery workshop I ran in 2022 at The William Morris Gallery (WM) with group of women Waltham Forest Twinning Association for Antigua (WFTA) to promote friendship, information exchange and the mutual understanding cultural activities within the area. We worked with Althea McNish Liberty Tana Lawn reproductions and raffia embroidery. An ode to Althea and to the memories of these women from the Caribbean." Emma Walker Hankey
"I took inspiration for my patchwork from the wooden carved owl located on the central atrium in the store. The owl an animal known to be silent and wise (so the opposite to me)."
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"[Liberty is...]Trips to London, sitting in a bar opposite the London store and marvelling at the beautiful building and architecture, exploring inside and finding ditsy florals."
Find all these squares, plus over 1,000 more when you experience The Patchwork Collection installation in store from May - July 2025.
