Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton: The Making of the Store Experience
As we celebrate the return of Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton, step into a fantastical realm within our Tudor Halls – from a mysterious masquerade soiree to Benedict’s boudoir
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Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton: The Making of the Store Experience
As we celebrate the return of Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton, step into a fantastical realm within our Tudor Halls – from a mysterious masquerade soiree to Benedict’s boudoir
Dearest reader, welcome to yet another social season of secrets and scandal. The ton is abuzz with the news of the return of Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton, transporting us once again to a world of romance and captivating storytelling, with a collaborative collection that delivers heritage craftsmanship and visionary design.
On the Fourth Floor of our Great Marlborough Street store, Liberty’s expert Visual Concepts team have transformed our Tudor Halls into a space dedicated to print design storytelling and fantastical artistry - a celebration of Shondaland’s much-adored Netflix series, Bridgerton.
This season, the second Bridgerton son, Benedict (Luke Thompson) takes centre stage, as he unexpectedly meets a Lady in Silver, Sophie (Yerin Ha), disrupting his bohemian, untethered habits with their immediate connection. To chronicle the latest of the Bridgerton family’s escapades, Liberty steps into the role of consummate modiste, translating this star-crossed tale into intricate botanicals and flamboyant florals, designed from a shared passion for storytelling and a commitment to innovative artistry. Craft your own story of enchantment with our immersive, alluring space – your very own fairytale, right here in Carnaby.
Cross the threshold of Liberty’s immersive space, and step into a world of Regency-era romance, each room unveiling a new corner of the Bridgerton world, every inch bedecked in Bridgerton-inspired creations from an atelier of curated brands. Liberty's visual concepts team, alongside stylists Karen McBain and Laura Beckett, and florist Alison Flannagan have been working on this space since before Christmas of last year. "The experiential element is such an important part of the job," Lisa, visual concepts manager, explains. "As you move through the space, we wanted each room to feel different - as if you're actually walking through the Bridgerton manor," she continues. In terms of installing the sets, "it's a lengthy process", stylist Laura Beckett, says, "we had four people working all day to make it happen."
Take a seat under the pavilion, covered with abundant blooms, what attentive viewers will recognise as the location of Benedict and Sophie’s first almost-kiss. In the dressing room, unmask the mystery and magic of a masquerade ball, where exquisitely crafted nightwear and accessories from the likes of Liberty London, Bon Dep and Superduper await, fit for the Bridgerton sisters themselves. Look closely and you’ll also spot a selection of masks crafted by Bridgerton’s own teams, and worn by the cast in episode one.
Wander past mannequins artfully draped in swathes of the new Liberty Fabrics & Bridgerton collection in Tana Lawn™ cotton, meticulously placed by Annale Walker, visual merchandiser at Liberty. “I start by looking at silhouettes fashionable at the time and thinking about how the characters in Bridgerton would actually wear them,” she explains. “I don’t actually cut any fabric, so everything is draped and pinned. That layered look is typical of Regency style, but I wanted to make it feel more Bridgerton by giving a bit of a dishevelled edge – as if they’re a bit undone.”
In the ballroom, spot exact replicas of the intricately decorated cakes featured in the masquerade ball sitting between the flickering candle sconces. Catch a glimpse of Benedict’s luxurious boudoir, which Lisa explains, “were left intentionally unkempt,” in a reflection of his bohemian tendencies…
Behind the curtain, a floating staircase descends from the ceiling, leading to the kitchen and staff quarters, revealing another side of Bridgerton’s high society, highlighting the starkly opposed positions Benedict and Sophie occupy, even within the Bridgerton house. Installing the staircase was a challenge. “Because we’re working in a heritage listed building, we had to make sure that it’s completely freestanding and doesn’t touch the actual building at all,” Lisa explains.
In the kitchen, antique copper pots hang above yet more Bridgerton-inspired treasures, their warm patina reflecting the rich hues of Liberty fabric. Constructing the sets meant a lot of searching for the visual concepts team, who scoured countless websites, auction houses and boutiques for those details in each room. “Barely anything is new,” Annale explains, “we’re always looking for little treasures to realise the vision we have in our heads.”
Step inside Liberty and enter the masquerade soiree, where immersive surroundings unfold room by room, revealing moments of fantastical romance at every turn. As you wander through richly imagined spaces, you’re invited to lose yourself in the splendour, mystery and artistry of the Bridgerton world – where curiosity leads the way, and every detail is designed to be discovered, savoured and experienced firsthand.
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