Laura Ashley

NAME: Laura Ashley

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman known for her romantic, floral print designs on clothing, homeware, and furnishings.

BIRTH: Laura Ashley was born on September 7, 1925, in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: She was the daughter of Welsh parents, Arthur and Beatrice Mountney. She was raised in a civil service family with strict Baptist values.

CHILDHOOD: Laura grew up in a modest household in Wales during the interwar period. Her childhood was shaped by her religious upbringing and the close-knit community in Wales.

EDUCATION: She attended Marshall's School in Merthyr Tydfil and Elmwood School, a grammar school in Croydon, Surrey. World War II disrupted her education, leading her to attend Aberdare Secretarial School.

CAREER RECORD: In 1942, at age 16, she left school and served in the Women's Royal Naval Service. After the war, Laura swapped her uniform for a secretary's garb, working for the rather sedate Women's Institute. But even amidst filing and typing, Laura's creative spirit couldn't be contained. She moonlighted as a designer, whipping up quilts and scarves that were anything but boring.  Her resume from there is as follows

1953: Launched her design business from her home, creating printed tea towels and scarves.

1960s: Expanded into clothing design and manufacture.

1967: Opened the first Laura Ashley shop in Kensington, London.

By 1985 (year of her death): The Laura Ashley brand had grown to over 220 shops worldwide.

APPEARANCE: She was described as having a demure and elegant appearance, often seen wearing her own floral print designs.

FASHION: Laura Ashley pioneered a unique style characterized by romantic prints, flowing silhouettes, and a focus on natural fabrics. She is famous for her romantic and vintage-inspired fashion designs, characterized by floral patterns and nostalgic aesthetics.

1970s printed cotton dresses by Laura Ashley at the Fashion Museum, Bath. By Mabalu 

Here is the story of Laura Ashley PLC. In 1949, love struck, and Laura married engineer Bernard Ashley. Together, they embarked on a new venture: manufacturing furnishing materials and wallpapers. Now, Laura wasn't one for minimalism. Her designs drew inspiration from historical documents, particularly those of the 19th century, resulting in a far more ornate aesthetic.  Think Laura Ingalls Wilder goes full-on chintz explosion.

Their company was initially christened Ashley Mountney (Laura's maiden name), but Bernard, with a cunning eye for marketing, decided a woman's touch was just the ticket for their decidedly feminine products. Thus, Laura Ashley was born.

Motherhood briefly put Laura's career on hold, but she soon bounced back, this time with a new weapon in her arsenal: dressmaking.  What began as playtime with fabrics for her kids soon blossomed into a full-fledged clothing line. This wasn't your typical wartime drab; Laura's dresses were all about romantic silhouettes, flowing fabrics (especially cotton, a natural fiber darling), and of course, those ever-present floral prints.

The Laura Ashley brand blossomed. Their first shop wasn't some swanky London address, but a quaint spot in Machynlleth, Wales.  (Pop by 35 Maengwyn Street if you're ever in the neighborhood, it's still there!)  From this humble beginning, Laura Ashley's floral prints bloomed into a global phenomenon, gracing not just clothing but fabrics, wallpapers, and everything in between.

CHARACTER: Laura was known for her strong work ethic, creativity, and determination. She was also described as kind and down-to-earth. She was known for her attention to detail in her work.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: While not widely documented, Laura Ashley was described as having a quiet and subtle sense of humor.

RELATIONSHIPS: Our wartime heroine, Laura Ashley, wasn't exactly dodging floral shrapnel during World War II.  She was actually serving her country with the stiff-upper-lipped crew of the Women's Royal Naval Service. Romance, however, wasn't entirely absent from her wartime duties. It was at a youth club in Wallington that she met a dashing young engineer named Bernard Ashley. Alas, after the war, Bernard got shipped off to India with the formidable Gurkhas.  No dashing rescues or wartime weddings here; instead, their love story unfolded through the slow burn of letters traversing oceans.  By 1949, they finally tied the knot and went on to build a family of four, proving that even amidst the chaos of war, love (and a good postal service) could conquer all.

MONEY AND FAME: The success of the Laura Ashley brand brought her both wealth and fame, establishing her as a leading figure in the fashion industry.

FOOD AND DRINK: There is little information available about her specific tastes in food and drink, but Laura likely enjoyed traditional Welsh cuisine.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Laura Ashley had a keen interest in arts and crafts, which influenced her designs. However, her personal involvement in music and other arts is not extensively documented.

LITERATURE: She had an appreciation for literature, which often inspired her creative endeavors.

NATURE: Laura Ashley drew inspiration from the natural world, incorporating botanical motifs and pastoral themes into her designs.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: She enjoyed gardening and needlework as hobbies.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: While she did not pursue a career in science or mathematics, she demonstrated a meticulous attention to detail in her designs.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Laura Ashley's work reflected a sense of nostalgia and a connection to traditional values. Her strict Baptist upbringing likely influenced her personal philosophy,  although her personal theological beliefs are not extensively documented.

SCANDAL: There are no notable scandals associated with Laura Ashley.

MILITARY RECORD: Laura served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War II. Not exactly sketching chintz roses on the deck of a battleship, mind you.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: She maintained a relatively private personal life, and details about her health and physical fitness are not widely known.

HOMES: Laura Ashley lived in various locations in London and Wales. The company headquarters were established in Carno, Wales.

TRAVEL: She traveled occasionally for business and leisure, drawing inspiration from different cultures and landscapes.

DEATH: Our floral queen's reign, sadly, wasn't destined to last forever. Just a touch past her 60th birthday, tragedy struck. Laura took a tumble down the stairs at her daughter's place in the West Midlands. Rushed to a Coventry hospital, she battled a brain hemorrhage for ten days, but ultimately succumbed to its effects on September 17, 1985. 

She is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, in Carno, in her beloved Wales.

On March 17, 2020, the Laura Ashley company, after facing financial difficulties for years, filed for administration because of a significant drop in sales. 

On April 22, 2020, Gordon Brothers, an investment firm, acquired the Laura Ashley brand name, archives, and intellectual property and relaunched the company.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Laura Ashley and her brand have been featured in numerous fashion magazines, documentaries, and retrospectives.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Built a global brand synonymous with a unique and enduring design style.

Pioneered the concept of lifestyle branding, offering a complete home and fashion aesthetic.

Empowered women through her practical and stylish clothing designs