Terence Conran was a major force in raising design awareness during
the Sixties. He opened his first 'Habitat' store at 77 Fulham Road
in May 1964, concentrating on modern furniture and accessories.
Habitat provided innovation and good design at affordable prices,
much of it imported from Europe. It introduced Britain to a range
of French cookware, all displayed in a simple environment of white
walls and quarry-tiled floors, then considered eccentrically austere.
Swinging London flocked to the first shop: John Lennon, George
Harrison and Julie Christie all bought furniture there, as did Mary
Quant.
Quant designed the staff's outfits and bought whole table settings
of linen, crockery and glassware for her dinner parties.
Tom Dixon on Habitat
