An exhibition celebrating the British record label and merchandise launch this summer featuring iconic Joy Division and New Order artwork from Peter Saville.
British record label Factory Records was undoubtedly one of the most influential yet maverick labels of the late 70s to early 90s.
Legendary artists – most noteably Joy Division and New Order – groundbreaking music and iconic artwork encapsulated the vision of founders Tony Wilson, Alan Erasmus and Peter Saville. Now, fans and fashionistas alike can get their hands on a whole range of products celebrating the label, which launched exclusively at Selfridges on 1 July.
In the early days, Factory was not just a record label but an ad-hoc, holistic enterprise that included posters, records, cassettes, films, concepts and concerts. Each of these was given its own individual FAC catalogue number starting with FAC1, Peter Saville’s first poster for the Factory Club in June 1978. From then on, design became integral to the way that Factory projected itself into the world.
Warner Music Artist Services has collaborated with high-end fashion designers and homeware partners – including Palm Angels, Softcore, Raf Simons, Stain Shade, Bang & Olufsen, Cedar Lifestyle, MJB and Umbro – to delve into and reinterpret this iconic artwork.
An exhibition also opened at Manchester’s Science & Industry Museum last month. Here, Factory’s original designs by co-founder and art director Peter Saville, for some of the world’s most recognisable album sleeves, plus posters and flyers are on display alongside other artwork commissioned by Factory.
The exhibition shows the importance of Factory’s imagery, whether used as one off flyers or album covers, each object had its own FAC Catalogue number.
“The collaboration with Selfridges is a celebration of the history of music and culture,” commented Sophie Bishop, director of retail merchandise A&R at Warner Music Artist Services. “Factory Records project will engage with current fans, while introducing the label, Joy Division and New Order to a younger demographic.”
Merchandise includes t-shirts and scented candles (inspired by Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures and New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies), plus skateboards, homeware and fashion.
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