There is an undeniable appeal that comes with longevity—the assurance of brands that have not merely endured, but evolved. This fall, two such houses align as Hickory Chair introduces an exclusive Liberty Fabrics collection, timed to Liberty’s 150-year anniversary. With more than a century of American furniture craftsmanship meeting one of Britain’s most iconic textile archives, the collaboration is a study in how heritage, when thoughtfully revisited, feels entirely of the moment.
The collaboration began, fittingly, in Liberty’s storied archive. Federico Contigiani, president of Hickory Chair, explored the Liberty Design House alongside the brand’s in-house archivist and design teams, immersing himself in a repository of more than a century of pattern, paint and print. From this deep dive emerged a tightly edited selection of distinguished designs, each reimagined in bespoke colorways created exclusively for Hickory Chair. Eleven fabrics anchor the collection, each paired with a complementary velvet or linen chosen to enhance the pattern while harmonizing seamlessly with Hickory Chair’s existing textile offerings.
The resulting textiles read like a visual anthology of Liberty’s design language. Lady Kristina, drawn from hand-painted artworks of the 1920s and ’30s, features stately bouquets of roses, tulips and blossoms suspended in graceful balance. Floating Pavilion channels the romance of 17th and 18th century Chinese wallpaper panels, populated with lotus flowers, pavilions, sampans and birds in flight—offered in both a luxurious velvet and an elegant linen. Butterfield velvet revives a playful poppy motif from original 1900s artwork by Arts and Crafts designer Lindsay Butterfield, while Faria Flowers velvet blooms at a larger scale, inspired by the Royal Chelsea and Hampton Court gardens.
Other standouts include Sambourne Stripe, a linen print referencing decorative shawls from the early 1900s; Lutea, a refined floral geometric inspired by a lily pad motif; Porcelain Trail, with winding branches and delicately drawn chrysanthemums; and Lotus Garden, layered with Asian-inspired motifs and animated by kingfishers watching over calm, flower-strewn waters.
“This partnership honors Liberty’s 150 years of heritage, while celebrating the enduring synergy between timeless textiles and distinguished craftsmanship,” says Genevieve Bennett, head of design at Liberty Interiors. Available through select trade showrooms, the Hickory Chair x Liberty Fabrics collection is a true legacy moment—one that underscores how great design, when rooted in history and executed with intention, continues to evolve and enchant.
