Laura Ashley Bio
Bio
Real Name: Laura Ashley
Profession: FASHION DESIGNER
Date of Birth : September 7, 1925
DEATH DATE : Sep 17, 1985 (age 60)
Birthplace : Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Zodiac sign : Virgo
Laura Ashley was a British renowned designer hailed from rural Wales was the Co-originator of home based work along with her husband Bernard Ashley that further transformed into a very famous textile company “Laura Ashley PLC”. The lady was famous for rich and rural feel manifested into her designs and her use of natural fabrics during the tenure from 1960s to 1980s. Prior to her death there were approximate more than 200 retail outlets/ shops making money worldwide in line of various items like natural wood floors, cabinets, counters, old fashioned chairs etc.
Early life
Laura Ashley was born as Laura Mountey on 7thSeptember, 1925 in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. She was born in service class & religious family. She was a Baptist. She completed her schooling in Whales first, there she attended Marshall’s School and then she moved back to Croydon, London to complete her rest of the education from Elmwood School. Soon she dropped out from school and joined Naval Services in 1942. After her service period in Navy, Ashley came back to London and started working as a secretary in “National Federation of Women Institute” from 1946 to 1952. She got settled in London, and in 1949 she met her husband Bernard Ashley and together they had 4 children.
Career
Laura Ashley was very much interested in fashion designing, while living with her family in her adolescence, she learned craft work from her grandmother; she was deeply interested in designing quilts, headscarves, napkins etc. This interest was destined to be nurtured in an everlasting business.
While doing her job in London, she started doing numerous projects along with the help of Bernard Ashley her husband, the couple invested 10 pounds for wood screen frame, dyes and linen for creating fabric and further creating Victorian scarves from it, which were not famous at that time. Sooner her printed scarves became popular and were demanded by huge brands of that time in 1954. They explored and expanded their business; both Laura & Ashley together opened the company “Laura Ashley”, the company although first named as “Ashley Mountney”. The first shop was opened in Machynlleth, Powys in 1961. After that more factories were constructed and came into operation, and the business spread to Paris and other cities.
Personal Life
Laura Mountney married Bernard Ashley (Engineer by profession) in 1949 and became Laura Ashley. She met him while doing the job of secretary at “National Federation of Women Institute”. Out of their marriage they had four children, two daughters and 2 sons. All her 4 children were taken over their parents business and helped it flourish.
Death & Aftermath
She was died early at an age of 60 years in 1985 by meeting an accident and went in coma and ultimately died by brain haemorrhage after struggling on ventilator. She was buried at her place of birth “Wales”.
Her legacy continued after her departure, her company went for public issue of shares and was oversubscribed just after 2 months of her death.
Her husbandset up Laura Ashley foundation in 1987 to aspire and inspire new and young talent to fulfil their dreams, the foundation is still doing tremendous work for motivating new aspirants.
