Laura Ashley, one of the world's best-loved fashion and home furnishings brands, started from humble beginnings. In 1953, after attending an exhibition on traditional handicrafts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, a young, unknown designer named Laura Ashley was inspired to make her own patchwork quilts. Unable to find suitable fabrics in the local shops of London, the enterprising artist decided to try producing her own.
A £10 investment in a screen, dyes and linen kick started her fledgling career. Around this time, the film Roman Holiday was released and Audrey Hepburn's headscarves in the film sparked a trend among young girls that Laura noticed while vacationing with her husband in Italy. Realizing she had the knowledge and ability to produce small scarves herself, Laura’s pieces became an instant hit and were soon selling at shops and major department stores throughout London.
It was Laura’s fascination with all things Victorian that led to the long length silhouette and feminine styles that would become the company’s trademark at the end of the 1960’s as fashion switched from the mini to the maxi. By then, Laura Ashley products could be found outside of Britain in major metropolitan cities like Paris, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Sydney and Toronto.
In 1979, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary by introducing a new line of perfume and Laura began to shift her attention from fashion back to fabrics. In the early 1980’s, the company launched its first full home furnishings line, a tradition that continues today.
Man, this place is great. They have a decent selection and it is quality stuff. The biggest thing is their service. I could not believe how good they were, no pressure, quick to answer when you had a question, and on most things I looked at they were flexible on the price. I highly recommend Laura Ashley Home!
