Liberty Tana Lawn Prints: A Guide to the Most Beloved Designs

Liberty Tana Lawn is one of the most recognisable fabrics in the world — a featherweight cotton woven so finely it drapes like silk, printed in colours so vivid they seem to glow. Since Liberty of London first introduced it in the 1920s, Tana Lawn has become a collector's fabric, with prints that carry names, histories, and devoted followings.

At Mabel and Mara, we work exclusively with Liberty Tana Lawn to handcraft accessories that let you carry a little piece of that heritage every day. Here's a guide to some of the prints you'll find in our collection — and the stories behind them.

Strawberry Thief Originally designed by William Morris in 1883 for his textile company, Strawberry Thief depicts thrushes stealing strawberries from his kitchen garden at Kelmscott Manor. It was a technically ambitious print for its time, requiring 30 separate colour registrations. Liberty's Tana Lawn version captures all that detail in a fabric light enough to fold into a pocket. Our Strawberry Thief Pink Neon handkerchief gives this Victorian classic a modern, vivid twist.

Ianthe One of Liberty's most enduring florals, Ianthe is named after the Greek word for violet flower. Its densely layered petals have made it a perennial favourite since the 1970s. We carry it in both Ianthe Red Traditional and as a quilted zippered pouch in Ianthe Pink — a beautiful everyday carry.

Betsy Betsy is perhaps Liberty's most iconic small-scale floral — a delicate, repeating bloom that works beautifully at any scale. It's the print that many people picture when they think of Liberty fabric. Betsy check is a variation on the design and is available in our Betsy Check Pink Pastel handkerchief and Betsy Check Pink pouch.

Bustle & Bow A more playful, graphic print with a vintage dressmaking feel, Bustle & Bow suits anyone who loves a bit of whimsy. We make it into both a handkerchief and a quilted zippered pouch — a lovely gift pairing.

Tudor Belle Is based on a diagram of Liberty London flagship store, Tudor Belle showcases a combination of floral and architectural geometric elements – capturing the excitement of walking through Liberty's big wooden doors, with a street featuring a redrawn version of the Margaret Annie print in homage to the famous Liberty flower shop. Look out for charming details on the building, such as the little windows under the eaves and the Mayflower ship weathervane on the roof. Tudor Belle Black handkerchief is one of our most best selling pieces, and the Tudor Belle Rainbow pouch makes for a practical and iconic gift.

Arboretum, Poppy Forest & Elysian Day For lovers of botanical prints, our collection also includes the lush Arboretum, the painterly Poppy Forest Blue, and the sunny Elysian Day Yellow — each one a miniature garden you can carry in your pocket.

Browse the full collection Every handkerchief is cut and hand-finished in the UK from genuine Liberty Tana Lawn. Shop all handkerchiefs →