Selfridges launch Factory Records, Joy Division and New Order merchandise range

Virgin Radio

2 Jul 2021, 12:09

As well as being one of the most influential record labels from the late 70s until the early 90s, and home to legendary artists such as Joy Division and New Order, Factory Records is also synonymous with some of music’s most iconic artwork. It’s exciting then, that Selfridges have just dropped a whole new range of awesome merchandise to celebrate the label.

Warner Music Artist Services, Factory Records, Joy Division and New Order have teamed up with Selfridges and some high-end fashion designers and homeware partners, such as Umbro, Cedar Lifestyle, and Bang & Olufsen, to deliver some fresh takes on classic Factory imagery, and it’s all released today (2nd July).

The new range, which also includes excellent items from Palm Angels, Softcore, Raf Simons, Stain Shade, and MJB, pays tribute to the vision of Factory founders Tony Wilson, Alan Erasmus and Peter Saville. 

As well as featuring classic music merchandise such as T-shirts and baseball caps, the collection also includes things you perhaps wouldn’t expect to see on your standard merch desk at a gig, such as skateboards, cushions, and scented candles inspired by Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures and New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies. 

Factory was seen as much more than a record label, but rather an ad-hoc, holistic enterprise which 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.

Ahead of the merchandise becoming available today, an exhibition launched at Manchester’s Science & Industry Museum, with Factory’s original designs by Peter Saville for some of the world’s most recognisable album sleeves, plus posters and flyers, on display. The exhibition continues to run until 3rd January 2022.

Of the new range at Selfridges, Sophie Bishop, Director of Retail Merchandise A&R at Warner Music said, “The collaboration with Selfridges is a celebration of the history of music and culture. The Factory Records project will engage with current fans, whilst introducing the label, Joy Division and New Order to a younger demographic.”

If you like what you see and want to make a (new) order, then head over to selfridges.com.