Laura Ashley, One Of The Best-Loved Fashion And Home Furnishings Companies

Established in 1950, its founder and prime mover, Laura Ashley got things moving when, reviving the quilting craft she had learned from her grandmother, she started designing table mats, head scarves, towels for tea and napkins. Her husband Bernard Ashley, who was an engineer printed these designs in a machine he himself had worked-on in their attic at 83 Cambridge. For wood needed for the screen frame, a few yards of linen and dyes, the young couple invested 10 pounds.

From there Laura got inspired to start producing printed fabrics when, coming from an exhibition of traditional handicrafts, she couldn’t find small patches with Victorian designs she needed for her patchworks. Here she saw an opportunity, grabbed it and started printing and producing Victorian style headscarves in 1953.

She had these scarves distributed via the John Lewis chain on high street and was retailing them by mail order. These got to be a big success which prompted Bernard to quit his city job and devoted his time to printing fabrics.

In 1955, from its registered name of Laura Mountney, (Laura’s maiden name) the couple decided it was more appropriate to have it changed to Laura Ashley in keeping with the type of products they were producing and marketing. This new company then moved to Kent, but with the birth of their 3rd child, they decided it was back to Wales where they had their first store opened in Machynlleth, Powys.

In 1975, Laura went back to her roots of designing fabrics and launched their home furnishings line.

Laura Ashley Today

Today, the company has stores spread out across the globe for its fashion and home furnishing products to be accessible almost anywhere in the world. They have global websites in Ukraine, Australia, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, the U.S., Greece, Chile, Netherlands, Korea, Sweden, Russia, Finland, Hong Kong and Bulgaria.

Laura Ashley Product Line

Its women’s fashion clothing and accessories range from cardigans to jumpers, from tops to skirts, from coats and jackets to nightwear and party wear. They have dresses, tunics and swimwear. The company’s men’s fashion is no less impressive with designer colognes to classy neckties, shirts and socks, trousers and jackets.

Their home furnishing collection covers the whole range of furniture, decorating items, home accessories, blinds and curtains and a unique design service.

The Laura Ashley Design service is about interpreting and translating your visions and ideas into actual real home furnishing items, creating a distinct interior done under the highest quality standards .. precisely for the way you live. your idea, taste and personal preference reflected in your own home.

You can log on to http://www.lauraashley.com and be awed by the beautiful fashion items and home furnishings the company offers. You may also place your orders, if you prefer in the comfort of your home sofa.