In 2025, the world-renowned design house Liberty will host a monumental exhibition, "I Am. We Are. Liberty.", at the British Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The exhibition will run for approximately two weeks, from August 30 to September 12, 2025. Marking the 150th anniversary of the company's founding, the special exhibition will celebrate British creativity and innovation while exploring the brand's deep historical ties with Japan.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
This traveling exhibition, which first opened at the brand's Tudor-style flagship store on Regent Street in London this spring and attracted worldwide attention, will be released. Through over 300 archival items spanning the 19th century to the present, this exhibition showcases Liberty's rich legacy of art, culture, and design. The exhibit includes rare early textiles, pattern books, and artwork of exceptional artistic merit, as well as important materials stemming from the brand's relationship with Japan, highlighting the brand's ethos of freedom and creativity.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Curated by art historian Esther Cohen, the exhibition explores the fusion of personal expression and universal values fostered by Liberty, as symbolized by the contrast between the "individual and the collective" in the exhibition title.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Of particular interest is the collection of valuable documents documenting the visit to Japan by founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty and his wife Emma in 1889. Their three-month trip, which took them to Kyoto, Tokyo, and other cities, had a decisive influence on Liberty's aesthetic sense and design language, and was the catalyst for the deep Japanese aesthetic to be imbued in their subsequent work. This special exhibition will also feature Emma's photographic travelogue documenting the trip, as well as modern Japanese textiles created after the visit.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Japan is currently the second largest market for Liberty in the world, and the brand operates a dedicated studio that develops original prints exclusive to Japan. To date, the brand has collaborated with Minagawa Akira of Minä Perhonen, and has produced a wide range of designs inspired by Hello Kitty, Peanuts, and even Japanese botanical encyclopedias.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Liberty Managing Director Andrea Petocchi said of the exhibition, "At the milestone of the 150th anniversary, we are pleased to be able to present the Osaka-Kansai Expo. "We are extremely proud to host this exhibition in the UK Pavilion. Our founder Arthur's travels to Japan during the Edo period, where he was exposed to its exceptional aesthetic sense, are the origins of our design philosophy. We hope this exhibition will be an opportunity to celebrate the fusion of Japanese and British craftsmanship and creativity," said Liberty UK Executive Director Carolyn Davidson. "Liberty embodies British creativity and international influence. This exhibition is more than just an archive exhibition; it is an attempt to showcase British culture today, at the intersection of art and innovation."

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Limited-edition items will also be available at the exhibition venue, allowing visitors to incorporate the essence of British design into their daily lives. You'll also be able to encounter uniquely Japanese crafts, such as carefully selected Liberty-print scarves and specially made furoshiki wrapping cloths in collaboration with Marusen, a long-established Kyoto maker of Tango crepe.

Courtesy of Liberty Japan
Liberty has been loved throughout the ages. Its essence is not just a textile brand, but a "culture embodying the philosophy of beauty." 150 years after its founding, Liberty continues to fascinate creators around the world. Why not take this rare opportunity to experience the history of this brand?





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