A newspaper suggested that by donning a Laura Ashley number, women could look as beautiful as Katharine Ross in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It also was to work successfully in the company's favour, as fashion switched from the mini to the maxi skirt at the end of the 1960s. The long length silhouette became the Laura Ashley trademark. Bernard had developed his flat-bed printing process to produce 5,000 metres of fabric per week, and in 1966 Laura produced her first dress for social rather than work attire. These were crucial times in the development of the company. The Ashleys' first Welsh factory was originally located in the social club in Carno in 1967 the factory moved across to the village's former railway station. The family lived above the shop for six years before moving to Carno, Montgomeryshire. The first shop opened at 35 Maengwyn Street, which still today trades as an interior design shop, and the Laura Ashley association is commemorated by a small plaque. The family moved to Wales in 1961, just after the birth of their third child. As the new M4 Motorway had just been built, Laura suggested Wales as there was much space, and driving up the new road one weekend, found a suitable house and shop available for a sum below their residual savings in Machynlleth, Powys. Turnover rose from £2,000 to £8,000 in 1960, which left them looking for new premises. The new company moved to Kent in 1955, but the business was nearly wiped out in 1958, when the River Darent overflowed – leaving equipment, dyes, and fabrics floating in three feet of water. Laura remained in charge of design until shortly before her death, while Bernard handled the operational side.Įmploying staff to cope with the growth of sales, the company name was changed to Laura Ashley because Bernard felt a woman's name was more appropriate for the type of products. Laura designed the prints and Bernard built the printing equipment, so forging a complementary partnership that was to give the company its unique strength throughout the years. The Ashleys' scarves quickly became successful with stores, retailing both via mail order and high street chains such as John Lewis.įrom 1953, Bernard left his city job and the couple began to expand the company, initially named Ashley Mountney Ltd incorporating Laura Ashley's maiden name. As such a fashion icon, she instantly created a style that became popular around the globe. Hepburn appeared alongside Gregory Peck in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, wearing a headscarf. Here was an opportunity, and she started to print Victorian style headscarves in 1953.Īudrey Hepburn inadvertently sparked the growth of one of the world's most successful fashion and home furnishing companies.
When Laura looked for small patches carrying Victorian designs to help her make patchworks, she found no such thing existed. Laura's inspiration to start producing printed fabric came from a Women's Institute display of traditional handicrafts at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The couple had invested £10 in wood for the screen frame, dyes and a few yards of linen. While working as a secretary and raising her first two children, part-time she designed napkins, table mats, and tea-towels which Bernard printed on a machine he had designed in an attic flat in Pimlico, London. On 17 March 2020, the company filed for administration, and was relaunched after its sale to Gordon Brothers.īernard Ashley met Welsh secretary Laura Mountney at a youth club in Wallington, London. Its products have been described as 'quintessentially English.' In 1985 the company was taken public after the death of its founder. The company relocated to Wales in 1961, and later grew to become an international retail chain with in excess of 500 stores, selling a variety of clothing and household goods. It was founded by Bernard Ashley and his wife Laura Ashley in 1953 in London, and first became known for creating Victorian style head scarves, one of which was worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Roman Holiday. Laura Ashley ( LSE: ALY) is a British textile design company.
0 kommentar(er)
