Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Member Directory
  • Support the VFG
  • About
  • Contact
Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Resources
    • Label Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography
    • Fabric Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Determining Fiber
      • Manufactured Fibers Timeline
      • Fabric "Looks Like"
      • Fabric by Fiber
      • Fabric by Use
      • Guide & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography & Acknowledgements
    • Fashion Timeline
    • Fur Resource
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
    • Lingerie Resource
    • Hat Resource
    • Wedding Resource
  • Articles
    • VFG Member Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Care and Cleaning
    • Buying & Selling
      • Quick Tips for Dating Vintage
      • How to Buy Vintage Clothing
      • Clothing Measurement Charts
      • Clothing Condition Chart
    • Featured Designers
    • Garment & Item Specifics
    • Innovation & Techniques
    • Regional Style & Stores
    • Trends & Genres
  • DONATE
  • Forum
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Support Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Join
    • Why Join?
    • VFG Code of Practice
    • Apply for Membership
    • VFG Member Directory
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Label Resource
  • Ashley, Laura

Ashley, Laura

Jul 6, 2010 | by admin | Label Resource | Labels

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 1960s print apron
Courtesy of stellarosevintage
from a late 1960s/early 1970s pinafore dress - Courtesy of emmapeelpants
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 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 an early 1970s cotton smock, Dyers and Print
Courtesy of emmapeelpants
from a 1970s dress - Courtesy of Annabel Lee
from a 1970s dress
Courtesy of Annabel Lee
from a 1970s long cotton dress - Courtesy of RetroRuthUK
from a 1970s long cotton dress
Courtesy of RetroRuthUK
from a 1970s dress  - Courtesy of novafashions
from a 1970s dress
Courtesy of novafashions
from a 1970s dress - Courtesy of bessie&maive
from a 1970s dress
Courtesy of bessie&maive
 from a rare 1970s French cotton/linen smock dress  - Courtesy of Archetype Vintage
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 late 1970s dress, Carno, Wales label
Courtesy of bartondoll
from a 1980s dress - Courtesy of ranchqueenvintage
from a 1980s dress
Courtesy of ranchqueenvintage
from a 1980s blouse - Courtesy of RetroRuthUK
from a 1980s blouse
Courtesy of RetroRuthUK
from a 1980s tartan Viyella dress - Courtesy of bombshellfrocks
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 1980s dress - Courtesy of thespectrum
from a 1980s dress
Courtesy of thespectrum
from a late 1980s dress - Courtesy of LeonardoDaVintage
from a late 1980s dress
Courtesy of LeonardoDaVintage
from a 1992/1993 dress - Courtesy of catwalkcreative
from a 1992/1993 dress
Courtesy of catwalkcreative
from a 1990s denim shirt dress  -  Courtesy of stellarosevintage
from a 1990s denim shirt dress
Courtesy of stellarosevintage
from a 1990s cardigan - Courtesy of katzoid
from a 1990s cardigan
Courtesy of katzoid
from a 1990s dress - Courtesy of ikonicvintage
from a 1990s dress
Courtesy of ikonicvintage
from a 1990s dress - Courtesy of midge
from a 1990s dress
Courtesy of midge
← previous next →

Question or Comment? Enter it below.

Donate & shop (paid links)

  • Donate button
  • Shop VFG Members Etsy button
  • Shop VFG Members eBay button
  • Amazon shop button
  • Zazzle shop button

VFG Resources

  • Label button
  • Fabric button
  • Lingerie button
  • Fur button
  • Timeline button
  • Hat button
  • Wedding button
  • Care & cleaning button
  • Tips & tricks button

Follow us

Membership

Shop VFG
Why Join
Code of Practice
Apply for Membership

Shop Member Stores

VFG Member Directory
VFG Amazon Shop
VFG Member Books
VFG Book Reviews
VFG on Etsy
VFG on eBay
VFG on Ruby Lane

Resources

The Time Line
Label Resource
Fabric Resource
Lingerie Resource
Fur & Exotics Resource
Hat Resource

Shortcuts

Vintage Inspiration
The VFG Blog
Ways to Say Thank You
About
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

This website and its content including text and images is © copyright Vintage Fashion Guild™ 2023 - All rights reserved
design © 2023 lucid crew
DMCA.com Protection Status