1953
In 1953, Laura and Bernard Ashley were inspired to start printing fabric on their kitchen table.

1954
Ashley Mountney Ltd. became a registered company in 1954, joining Laura's maiden name with their married name, but it was soon decided that the name of the company should be changed to Laura Ashley, to reflect the vision of the founder.

1955
In 1955, the Ashley's moved from London to rural Kent, allowing more space to print and develop the company.

1958
In 1958, they opened a showroom in London, which showcased the breadth of the collections they were then producing, from small domestic items to large scale single panel printed textiles which were used by companies such as P&O.

1960
1960 saw a significant and long lasting event for the company, when the family moved again, this time to Wales where Laura was born, and from where she had many happy childhood memories. They first opened a shop in Macchynlleth which they lived above, and here Laura worked with a seamstress to introduce their first forays into fashion, producing smock like shirts and gardening smocks.

1967
In 1967, all manufacturing moved to nearby Carno railway station, where the company set its long term foundations and grew with the development of Bernard Ashley's first flat bed printing machine, which could produce 5,000 meters of fabric per week. Still today, over 40% of home sales are generated from products that are made in the UK.

1968
1968 saw the opening of Laura Ashley's first London shop on Pelham Street in South Kensington. Initially business was slow, but after Bernard took out 100 adverts on the underground, turnover rose 300% in 3 days, and increased to 3000% in the following two months.

1970
By 1970, sales had increased and more shops had opened, with the Fulham Road branch selling 4000 dresses in one week alone.

1971
Franchising operations brought about the opening of department store concessions in Australia, Canada and Japan in 1971.

1974
Further shops opened in Paris and San Francisco in 1974, and UK shop openings continued with a vengeance.

1975
By 1975, the company had grown faster than anyone could have predicted. Over 40 shops had opened, turnover had increased to £5 million per year, and the company now employed 1,000 people worldwide.

1981
Laura and Bernard moved from Wales to Northern France, which would be another huge influence on Laura, and the style of new products from then on took on a grander, more country house look. Inspired by her new surroundings, Laura began to shift her attention from fashion to the home furnishings side of the business, with the first full home furnishings catalogue appearing in 1981.

1982
The 'Decorator Collection' launched in 1982, with more radical designs and prints aimed at the interior design market.

1983
'The Laura Ashley Book of Home Decorating' was published in 1983 as a result of the interest in the Laura Ashley 'style' that was developing.

1985
1985 saw further expansion with the opening of the first shop in Japan, in Tokyo. Tragedy struck however in 1985, when Laura died as a result of a fall down some stairs while visiting her children. The enthusiasm and affection felt for the company was demonstrated two months after Laura's death, when a planned public floatation of Laura Ashley Holdings plc was 34 times oversubscribed. Bernard Ashley was knighted in the late 1980's, which also saw the launch of the 'Mother and Child' collection, and the Laura Ashley Home collection, an exclusive new range of home furnishings.

1987
The 'Chatsworth House Collection' was launched in 1987 as a result of a visit Laura made to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire in 1985, just one of many inspirational trips she made which informed the style and direction of the home furnishings collection. By the end of the decade, the company had 450 shops worldwide.

1993
The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1993, as Sir Bernard retired as Chairman, and became honorary president, a post he held until 1998.

1994
In 1994, a plaque at 83 Cambridge Street, Pimlico was unveiled by Sir Bernard and Jane Ashley, marking the beginnings of the Laura Ashley Empire.

1998
In May 1998, MUI Asia Limited became a major shareholder in Laura Ashley, and they remain committed to taking the company from strength to strength.

1999
1999 saw the launch of the Laura Ashley Design Service, based in stores around the country.

2001
The Laura Ashley website www.lauraashley.com went live in October 2001, bringing a while new shopping experience to Laura Ashley customers.

2003
The company received the European Mail Order Days Award in 2003 in recognition of sales growth and quality of catalogues.

2005
In 2005, the company moved its production operations on to one site in Newtown, Powys, where it currently produces paint, wallpaper and made to measure curtains. The company has growing franchise operations all over the world, including the Far East, Australia, Scandinavia and South America, as well as increasing numbers of licensing projects for products including carpets, eyewear, towels and tiles.

2011
In early 2011, Laura Ashley proudly launched their new girlswear line - Laura Ashley Girls. The aim was to offer easy to wear, comfortable pieces that girls enjoy wearing. It has everyday favorites that children remember for a lifetime.