The Liberty Printing Mill
Liberty has been a pioneer of fabric innovation since we began printing our own designs well over a century ago. Today we have our own mill, located near the banks of Lake Como – the centre of the European textile industry. Using both cutting-edge technology and traditional techniques, archival and studio-fresh designs are printed to stunning effect on bases such as linen, chambray and, of course, our signature Tana Lawn cotton.
Our specialists print millions of metres of fabric every year, using both rotary screen and digital printing technologies. Swathes of fabric moves through printing, steaming, washing and softening processes. They are later quality checked by eagle-eyed technologists, before the fabric is cut, rolled and shipped around the globe.
Our mill is proud to continue with tried-and-tested traditional screen printing techniques, but also sits at the frontline of digital printing advancement, having recently invested in a new colour-by-colour printing machine that is one of only a few in the world. The continual honing of skills and technologies ensures we bring our studio designers’ photographic and painterly creations to life in the most vivid way possible.
Our mill reflects both sides of the Liberty spirit – a proud history of heritage design, combined with a restlessly inventive approach.
Sustainability: Our Commitment
Liberty Fabrics recognises that the production of fabric has significant environmental and social impact on the world around us – the company takes its duty towards responsible production seriously, making every endeavour to continuously improve progress in this area.
Memberships and Certifications
Liberty Fabrics joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) in January 2017 to be part of a collective movement to promote better cotton farming practices, and secured the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), enabling it to retail select bases as “Organic” (classified as containing a minimum of 95% certified organic fibres). For several finished cotton and linen Liberty Fabrics bases, the company holds the Standard 100 Oeko-Tex certification, and additionally facilitates the verification of recycled materials through the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).
Alternative Fibres
Where we can, we look for innovative fibres to use in our fabrics that mitigate impact on the world’s resources. Fibre innovations that are used in a number of our bases include LENZING™ standard Lyocell and Modal fibre types – certified as compostable and biodegradable under industrial, home, soil and marine conditions. BEMBERG™ branded Cupro – a regenerated fibre made from cotton linter, a raw material that is considered pre-consumer waste. ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon – virgin quality nylon yarn created from recovering nylon waste, such as fishing nets and fabric scraps .