Nostalgic, romantic, floral, however you decide to categorise Laura Ashley fabric, their descriptions also describe the mood of my artwork. This is how I found myself doing a personal collaboration with her vintage fabrics for Contempfleury. Rather than apologising for yet another piece of art that, ‘sorry, is a little bit floral and pretty,’ I decided it was about time to join the many social movements that celebrate these Laura Ashley qualities like Cottagecore, Fairycore, Whimsicalcore and frame my art with it. Read on to see how I’m using vintage Laura Ashley fabric to complement and display my artwork.
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What is so special about Vintage Laura Ashley Fabrics
The brand may have weathered a storm of challenges since the 1980s but vintage Laura Ashley fabrics and designs are having a revival thanks to the principles that define their brand, nostalgia, quality and craftsmanship.
Heritage Quality
Laura Ashley made her first fabrics from her kitchen table with a small hand printing machine which harked back to simpler times when arts and crafts were celebrated and valued. Laura and Bernard Ashley started their business with just £10, some screens, dye and a bucket load of passion. They made their first fabrics into napkins, table mats and tea towels. In the early years as the business expanded, from London to Wales, they never steered far from their values of craftsmanship and quality. As a result, they became a trusted British brand people would choose for their home, special occasions and even weddings.
Nostalgic Designs
Their designs were always a little romantic and escapist as they looked to past eras like the Victorians for inspiration. This was clearly depicted in their style, like big blousy collars, and ruffles on sleeves. Fabrics were laced with flowers in polka dot dimensions to more showy statement florals, birds, and fruit. The nature inspired designs are probably the pieces most synonymous with their pretty style. Collections were also full of candy stripes, broderie anglais, tweeds and smart navy blue fabrics suitable for her naval style designs.
Below are two fabrics I’ve chosen to use with my art:
Kew Gardens – Laura Ashley Fabric 1984
This Laura Ashley upholstery material has been described as a country furnishing cotton, is 120cm wide with a pattern repeat of 32cm. This beautiful cotton has a background of small green polka dots, a tiny repeat pattern of a pink tulip as well as larger stylised bold flowers, which look in style similar to hellebores, poppies and chrysanthemums.
I decided to use vintage fabrics to mount my artwork because I wanted to add more floral depth, history and heritage to what I hope will become heirloom pieces of art. I wanted the fabric mount to be as special as the art itself.
Lilac Sprigs – Laura Ashley Fabric UK, 1979/1980
I’m absolutely in awe at how contemporary this cotton fabric looks today with its beautiful sprigs of what look like different colour lilacs. I purchased it off Ebay from a seller claiming its 1979/1980 date but I’m not sure of this date. Please contact me if you have any info on this print. In the meantime I’m still looking for a Laura Ashley fabric archive that can give me answers. In between the stylised sprigs is the repeat motif of a little purple flower and what looks like a rosebud which joins each larger motif together.
I choose this fabric to team with my wildflower embroidery below because the colours tied in well together and the two styles of flowers just worked, despite been different in design and shade. I like the fact they don’t match, but do match at the same time! It is so difficult to get this right, I scrolled pages and pages of fabrics.
How I Cover Traditional Paper Mounts
Choosing glue to spray on fabric is no easy feat. Firstly I wanted none yellowing glue, secondly a fine spray, thirdly an acid free glue and fourthly a CO free option. My research took me to a Gorilla spray adhesive which I wasn’t able to find in the UK and secondly a 3M display mount which I decided to give a go.
Taking both glue and scissors to beautiful fabrics made me SO nervous, so I decided to practice on a finer Liberty fabric first which isn’t so rare! Then I gave my Laura Ashley Fabric a go. Well actually before I went ahead with the glue I checked to see how snug the mount fitted the frame as the thick fabric would make extra bulk. I used a craft knife to slightly shave off a couple of mm’s of my mount. A future note to myself would be to make a bespoke mount a couple of mm smaller than my frame for thick fabrics. I decided to spray my mount and then place it down on my fabric before cutting through the middle and folding in and trimming the sides.
Is Laura Ashley Still Popular?
Oh boy yes! A current Laura Ashley revival is seeing clothes from the heyday (defined as anytime in the 1970 and 1980s) go for hundreds of pounds and old catalogues likewise fetching surprising amounts of over £200. Check these out for yourself by visiting Classic Laura Ashley’s store, listed below.
Where To Find Vintage Laura Ashley Fabric
Like with anything vintage there are the usual online haunts for find vintage fabric, Ebay – ‘Laura Ashley Fabric’ and Etsy -‘Laura Ashley Fabric’.
Classic Laura Ashley is a treasure trove of an Etsy store dedicated to all things Laura Ashley, you will find fabulous lengths of fabric amongst dresses, china and perfumes.
Absolutely Laura is an incredible website which catalogues all things Laura Ashley with fascinating items other than fashion and fabrics which include sample books, promotional material, packaging, calendars, magazine articles, china and books. Run by Laura Ashley fanatic, Karen Morgan from her her home in The Forest Of Dean, she uses her Ebay store to peddle her pretty wares.
For English vintage fairs and brocantes I have a wealth of information in the blog post The Appeal Of The French Brocante In The Search For Art And Rare Paraphernalia
Where You Can Purchase My Laura Ashley Fabric Framed Art
Teaming vintage Laura Ashley fabrics with my artworks is a match I’m loving exploring. Works of art I have for sale can be found in my Contempfleury shop on Etsy.
History Of Laura Ashley Timeline
1953 – Ashley Mountney Ltd is founded in London by Laura and Bernard Ashley later to be renamed Laura Ashley. They hand print their first fabrics and make products from their kitchen table. A headscarf they print is worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Roman Holiday.
1955 – Company moves to Kent.
1961 – Company relocates to Wales.
1965 – Bernard developed printing processes meant that they could print 5,000 meters of fabric a week
1968 – First Laura Ashley shop opened in Pelham Street, South Kensington.
1970 – Shops open in Bath & Shrewsbury.
1974 – Stores open in Paris & San Fransciso.
1977 – Won The Queens Award For Export.
1979 – Laura Ashley becomes the largest employer in Powys, Wales, with 13 factories, 500 shops and more than 13,000 staff.
1982 – The Laura Ashley Book Of Home Decorating is published.
1985 – Laura Ashley tragically dies after falling down the stairs. The same year Laura Ashley holdings go public and stores open in Tokyo and Japan.
1991 – James Maxmim became the CEO of Laura Ashley.
1993 – Bernard Ashley retires as Chairman and became honorary life president.
1999 – The last factory closes in Wales.
2009 – Bernard Ashley died from cancer.
2020 – The COVID pandemic led to the companies collapse and file for administration.
2022 – Gordon Brothers acquire the Laura Ashley brand name.
Further Reading
Liberty Fabric Print Art – Liberty Letters
How To Make A Pressed Flower Frame
Modern Pressed Flower Art For A Unique Flower gallery
Flower Art – Collecting and Finding The Essence Of A Great Portfolio
Conclusion
I find the patnership of Laura and Bernard Ashley inspiring. Laura designed the fabrics and Bernard designed the equipment in which to bring her designs to life. I wonder which factory the fabrics that are laying on my table were printed at, and from which part of the Laura Ashley story? Were they fabrics for Laura Ashley fabric curtains perhaps? I’d love to see some of the early pieces they printed by hand from their kitchen table! Where ever, when ever, I love the greater depth of history, of design, and rareity they bestow upon my paper embroideries.
Contempfleury
Contempfleury is an art studio run by Leah Nikolaou from her home and garden in Somerset. She works extensively with pressed flowers and luxury yarns to create her one-of-a-kind flower art and pressed flower prints.
