Laura Ashley

by Martin Wood

Against the background of Laura Ashley's life - from her birth in South Wales in 1925 to her sudden death in 1985 - Martin Wood tells the story of the iconic brand she and her husband, Bernard, created. Beginning with the textiles they designed and printed at home in their three-room flat in the 1950s, Wood looks at how, when they began designing and selling dresses, blouses and other clothes, and launched a range of household textiles and furnishings, `Laura Ashley style' became a phenomenon.

The story is richly illustrated with more than 200 photographs and drawings, many never previously published, from the company's archives and the Ashley family's private records.

From reviews of Nancy Lancaster



'Excellent . . . the best title on taste and design published this year' Financial Times

'Of all the books on houses and gardens . . . this one takes the cake' Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, Spectator

'A rare treat, fluently written and superbly illustrated Daily Telegraph

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2009

Reviews

[WORN Fashion Journal]

Say the name Laura Ashley and visions of fussy floral prints, Victorian-esque maxi dresses, and Princess Diana dance in my head. Turns out I’m not entirely off the mark. From humble beginnings printing textiles on a kitchen table, the story of Ashley and her family is carefully chronicled alongside that of the company. Martin Wood reveals that the Ashleys never set out to be fashion designers, wanting primarily to be seen as textile printers and interior decorators, but apparel proved a profitable way to market their textile prints. Ample text and photographs provide a detailed account of where Ashley found inspiration and how it was applied to convey the British country essence of their brand. If you’re looking for a juicy read you had better move to the B’s – this biography is a respectful tribute to a woman who truly lived the Laura Ashley lifestyle she created. (reviwed by Magenta Piroska)