Laura Ashley collapses ...

[UttaRetch]

and blames covid-19.  However, Laura Ashley has been clinging on for years and the virus is perhaps co-incidental.

[Acorn]

It does seem rather difficult to believe it can be due to the virus at this point.  Maybe it was the final straw, but if so the collapse was really due to the previous problems.

But aside from that, wah!  It's a long time since I bought their clothes, but I have a fair amount of their wallpaper and curtain fabric in my house.  Mind you, when I last looked at their sale (a month or so ago) I couldn't find anything at all that appealed, which may be rather more relevant to their collapse.

[Greybird]

I shall be looking to buy up some of their emulsion paint if I can. It's the best I've ever used.

[Tamnymore]

Sob Sob.  I grew up with Laura Ashley. Inside this 60+ year old grumpy old woman there's a 1970s youngster in a long flowery dress and straw hat forever tripping through the meadows. In the 21st century I may not wear the dresses but we have loads of their wallpaper and curtains and their bedding is excellent. But they were on the decline for a long while. An icon that I shall remember fondly nevertheless.

[Efemera]

I’m not surprised....the home dept has some nice things but their clothing is just woeful...real mumsy headmistress stuff,( no disrespect to headmistresses but it’s what I remember mine looking like) it’s just never moved with the times.

[sewingj]

Haven`t shopped there for ages but I remember discovering them in the 1970s.  Some friends and I made a trip to Oxford just to visit the shop.  We coveted the long tiered smocks but instead of buying one, bought some fabric from them for 50p a metre and shared a pattern!  (The fabric was not great quality - it was often mis-printed and shrank like mad)

[Helen M]

I think they are playing the 'blame game' here as I read maybe 4 weeks ago that they were in difficulties.

A shame as they had some nice pieces in their winter collection. I went in and tried some on, but the sizes weren't right for me. I would have bought if they had been.

[Sewbee]

In the 90s, I adored Anthing Laura Ashley. I had loads of curtains, bed linens, etc. In their fabrics.

Recently, though I don’t think it has been as good.

[Acorn]

Interestingly, the BBC, who earlier reported that the collapse was due to the virus, is now categorically saying that it is NOT due to the virus.  Hmm.   

[UttaRetch]

I was never a Laura Ashley fan, but have been into stores over the years.  There has never been anything for me since I am not a flowery person and the clothes are meh.

[Surest1tch]

I can't say I've ever liked Laura Ashley but I've never been into tiny flower prints and frilly clothes. Im sure a lot of company's who were struggling before covid19 will blame their downfall on the virus. I do feel sorry for the staff who are going to loose their jobs though.

[Marniesews]

I have very fond memories of Laura Ashley in the late 70s. It was a very hard time for us up north during the recession that hit so very hard up there (couldn't believe the difference when we moved to Bedfordshire in the early 80s - a different world). Our business also went bust - we'd opened less than a year before the crisis and really stood no chance at all when I (as the wage earner) became pregnant.

Yet, I have fond memories of the time. It's when I really became a regular sewer using wonderful fabric remnants from the local markets. The Lancashire cotton mills were in terminal decline but the market traders had fabulous contacts and great bargains but no knits as I recall. I made so many dresses for our daughter that got admired but had cost me 25p to make! Just as well as we couldn't afford dresses from Mothercare, the precious pennies went on babygros - new, so practical and freedom from washing those long cotton nightdresses! Then one year at Christmas as a huge treat when she was 4 we saved up and bought her one gorgeous Laura Ashley silky needlecord dress. It seemed grossly expensive but I traced a pattern from it and made at least 3 more versions in market fabric, not needlecord but still perfect for the job. Much admired, they were sleeveless winter pinafore dresses with a little neat peak above the shoulder (reminded me of my dad's flat cap  ) and the button-back bodice was pulled in with a sash tie so I was able to make really deep hems. She got a few years wear out of them with a narrow band of ribbon hiding the crease each time they were let down. If I only ever remember one thing I made for her it will be those dresses.

After losing so much weight over the past 5 years, I've been buying clothes for myself from Laura Ashley (mostly tops) and always remembering that little girl's dress. I've often been the only one in the shop mid week so their decline has been obvious for a while.

Bye LA with thanks for the memories.   

[Lowena]

I love Laura Ashley and will miss it

[Renegade Sewist]

Just read an article from 2018 where they announced shuttering 40 of the 160 stores in the UK to focus on expanding their presence in China.  The company was owned by a Malaysian company and has struggled since Andrew Khoo became chairman in 2018.

Laura Ashley was marvelous in the 70s as was Jessica McClintock. I often did my best to knock them off in those days. Couldn't afford to buy many.

The Laura Ashley branded Brother embroidery machines have some lovely designs built in.

[jintie]

I made pretty little dresses for DD. They had great fabric sales. There was a lack of coordination between the fabric production side and the clothing production side!