Laura Ashley was born in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales on September 7, 1925. Her Welsh parents lived in London, her mother returned home to allow Laura Mountney to be born in Wales at her grandmother's home, 31 Station Terrace,
She was raised in England and Wales by Strict Baptist parents.
During World War II, she served with the Women's Royal Naval Service. After the war, Laura worked as a secretary with the Women’s Institute and designed quilts and scarves.
She married engineer Bernard Ashley in 1949, and they started a business manufacturing furnishing materials and wallpapers with patterns based upon document sources mainly from the 19th century.
They registered the company as Ashley Mountney (Laura's maiden name), but Bernard changed the name to Laura Ashley because he felt a woman's name was more appropriate for the type of products they were producing.
When Laura Ashley gave up work to have a baby, she experimented with designing and making clothes, and this transformed the business into an international chain of boutiques selling clothing, furnishing fabrics, and wallpapers. Her work was characterized by a romantic style and the use of natural fabrics, especially cotton. The Welsh-born fashion designer was especially famed for her floral prints.
Laura Ashley's first shop was opened in Machynlleth, Powys in Wales (35 Maengwyn Street) - it still trades as an interior design shop.
Her marriage to engineer and fellow designer Bernard Ashley produced four children.
Laura Ashley died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs at her daughter Jane’s home in Wales on her 60th birthday.
Following the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, Laura Ashley filed for administration on March 17, 2020, putting 2,700 jobs at risk. After struggling for several years, the company blamed its troubles on a "significant" drop in trade with no end of COVID-19 in sight.
She was raised in England and Wales by Strict Baptist parents.
During World War II, she served with the Women's Royal Naval Service. After the war, Laura worked as a secretary with the Women’s Institute and designed quilts and scarves.
She married engineer Bernard Ashley in 1949, and they started a business manufacturing furnishing materials and wallpapers with patterns based upon document sources mainly from the 19th century.
They registered the company as Ashley Mountney (Laura's maiden name), but Bernard changed the name to Laura Ashley because he felt a woman's name was more appropriate for the type of products they were producing.
When Laura Ashley gave up work to have a baby, she experimented with designing and making clothes, and this transformed the business into an international chain of boutiques selling clothing, furnishing fabrics, and wallpapers. Her work was characterized by a romantic style and the use of natural fabrics, especially cotton. The Welsh-born fashion designer was especially famed for her floral prints.
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| 1970s printed cotton dresses by Laura Ashley at the Fashion Museum, Bath.By Mabalu |
Laura Ashley's first shop was opened in Machynlleth, Powys in Wales (35 Maengwyn Street) - it still trades as an interior design shop.
Her marriage to engineer and fellow designer Bernard Ashley produced four children.
Laura Ashley died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs at her daughter Jane’s home in Wales on her 60th birthday.
Following the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, Laura Ashley filed for administration on March 17, 2020, putting 2,700 jobs at risk. After struggling for several years, the company blamed its troubles on a "significant" drop in trade with no end of COVID-19 in sight.
Gordon Brothers, an investment firm, announced on April 22, 2020 that they had acquired the Laura Ashley brand name, archives, and intellectual property rights out of administration. Later, in October 2020, it was revealed that Laura Ashley would be making a comeback with a flagship store in the Westfield Shopping Centre located in West London, which would be facilitated through Next's 500 UK stores and website.
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