Laura Ashley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laura Ashley
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Ashley in the 1960s
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Laura Mountney
7 September 1925 Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
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| Died | 17 September 1985 (aged 60) Coventry, West Midlands, England
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| Resting place | St. John the Baptist Church, Carno, Wales |
| Education | Marshall's School, Merthyr Tydfill Elmwood School, Croydon |
| Occupation | Fashion designer/businesswoman |
| Known for | Founder, Laura Ashley plc |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4 |
Laura Ashley (born Laura Mountney; September 7, 1925 – September 17, 1985) was a famous Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman. She started her business in the 1950s by making materials for homes. Later, in the 1960s, she began designing and making clothes. Her style is known for its romantic look, often inspired by old country designs, and for using natural fabrics.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Laura Ashley was born in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Her family was very religious Baptists. She loved going to her local church, even though the services were in Welsh and she didn't understand all the words. She especially loved the singing!
She went to school in Merthyr Tydfil and later in Croydon. When she was 13, World War II meant she had to move back to Wales. Because so many children were evacuated, there were no school places left for her. So, she went to a secretarial school instead.
In 1942, at age 16, Laura joined the Women's Royal Naval Service. This was a part of the navy for women during the war. During this time, she met Bernard Ashley at a youth club. He was an engineer. After the war, Bernard went to India, and they wrote letters to each other. From 1945 to 1952, Laura worked as a secretary in London. She married Bernard in 1949.
Starting the Business
While working as a secretary and raising her first two children, Laura started a hobby. She was doing some work for the Women's Institute, which involved quilting. She remembered how her grandmother used to quilt. This inspired her to design headscarves, napkins, table mats, and tea-towels.
Her husband, Bernard, helped by printing these designs. He used a machine he had built in their attic apartment in London. They started their business with just £10. This money was used to buy wood for a screen frame, dyes, and some linen fabric.
Laura got the idea to print fabrics from a display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She saw old handicrafts there. Laura wanted to find small pieces of fabric with Victorian designs to make patchworks. But she couldn't find any! This gave her an idea: she could create them herself. So, in 1953, she began printing headscarves with Victorian-style patterns.
The scarves became very popular quickly. They were sold through mail order and in big stores like John Lewis. Because of this success, Bernard left his job to print fabrics full-time. The company was first called Ashley Mountney, using Laura's maiden name. But Bernard changed it to Laura Ashley. He felt a woman's name was better for the products they made.
The new company moved to Kent in 1955. Later, in 1960, the family moved to Wales.
First Shop and Growth
Laura Ashley's first shop opened in 1961 in Machynlleth, Wales. A small plaque there remembers this special place. The shop sold local honey and walking sticks, along with Laura and Bernard's own products.
In this shop, Laura worked with a seamstress. They started making their first clothing items, like smock-style shirts and gardening smocks. The family lived above the shop for a while. Then they moved to Carno, Wales. They first set up their business in an empty social club. In 1967, they moved to the local railway station, which had closed two years earlier.
Family and Legacy
Laura and Bernard Ashley had four children. All of them were involved in the family business. Their oldest son, David, designed the shops. Their daughter, Jane, was the company photographer. Another daughter, Emma, and their second son, Nick, were part of the fashion design team. Bernard was the company chairman, and Laura carefully watched over the fabrics.
The business became very successful. This meant the Ashleys could afford many nice things, like a yacht and a private plane. They also owned homes in France, Wales, Brussels, and the Bahamas.
Laura's Death
In 1985, shortly after her 60th birthday, Laura Ashley had an accident. She fell down the stairs at her daughter's home. She was taken to a hospital in Coventry. Ten days later, she sadly died from a brain haemorrhage. She is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist in Carno, Wales.
After Laura
Two months after Laura's death in 1985, Laura Ashley Holdings became a public company. This means people could buy shares in the company. Many people wanted to buy shares, showing how popular the company was.
A special plaque was put up on July 5, 1994, at the family's old home in London. This plaque remembers Laura Ashley. Sir Bernard Ashley, Laura's husband, passed away from cancer on February 14, 2009.
The Ashley Family Foundation
The Laura Ashley Foundation was started in 1987. It was run by Sir Bernard and their children. At first, it mainly supported the arts. Over time, it also began to fund projects that help communities and social welfare. Because of this change, the foundation's name was changed in 2011 to The Ashley Family Foundation.
See also
In Spanish: Laura Ashley para niños
