Ashley, Laura

Laura Mountney Ashley (1925-1985) and husband Bernard Ashley started Ashley-Mountney Ltd in 1953 as a small screenprinting business that they ran from their home. They produced scarves and fabric kitchenwares such as placemats and towels. At first the business was located in London, then Kent, UK, but in 1961 they moved it to Carno, Wales, UK. By this time they were also making aprons and gardening smocks under the Laura Ashley name.

After the move to Wales, the company was able to expand, moving from the house to a larger building, with better printing machinery brought in. The first true Laura Ashley dresses were made in 1966. These dresses had a rural, old fashioned feel, and were right in step with the craze for nostalgia in dressing that came with the end of the 1960s. The dresses were made from the textiles printed by the company, and the designs were often modern interpretations of antique prints.

By 1970s, there was a string of Laura Ashley stores across the UK and the Continent, and the first store was opened in the US in San Francisco is 1974. By the 1990s there were 100s of stores worldwide.

Laura Ashley died in 1985, the result of an accident. By that time the company’s designs had come to be more in line with mainstream fashion, and they were producing a full line of women’s clothing. Still, floral dresses were a hallmark of the “Laura Ashley Look.”

By the late 1990s, the US business was struggling, and was sold. The North American Laura Ashley stores were closed, but their home furnishings were licensed and sold through other retailers. Today, Laura Ashley clothing is sold mainly in the UK, but a few North American stores carry the line as well.

Written by fuzzylizzie

See vintage Laura Ashley from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)

from a 1960s print apron

Courtesy of stellarosevintage

from a late 1960s/early 1970s pinafore dress

Courtesy of emmapeelpants

from an early 1970s dress

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from an early 1970s dress

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

from an early 1970s cotton smock, Dyers and Print

Courtesy of emmapeelpants

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of Annabel Lee

from a 1970s long cotton dress

Courtesy of RetroRuthUK

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of novafashions

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of bessie&maive

from a rare 1970s French cotton/linen smock dress

Courtesy of Archetype Vintage

from a late 1970s dress, Carno, Wales label

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of ranchqueenvintage

from a 1980s blouse

Courtesy of RetroRuthUK

from a 1980s tartan Viyella dress

Courtesy of bombshellfrocks

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of thespectrum

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of thespectrum

from a late 1980s dress

Courtesy of LeonardoDaVintage

from a 1992/1993 dress

Courtesy of catwalkcreative

from a 1990s denim shirt dress

Courtesy of stellarosevintage

from a 1990s cardigan

Courtesy of katzoid

from a 1990s dress

Courtesy of ikonicvintage

from a 1990s dress

Courtesy of midge