Laura Ashley has been bought by Marquee Brands, the American owner of Ben Sherman, in what could be a potential boost for the struggling British label.
The US company, which runs 17 brands in fashion and home cooking, has bought the heritage brand from the US restructuring firm Gordon Brothers for an undisclosed sum.
Gordon Brothers bought the label, known for its floral fashions and soft furnishings, out of administration in 2020, resulting in the closure of all its 147 shops.
Marquee Brands, controlled by the US investment group Neuberger Berman, said it was “primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley’s seven-decade legacy” with the release of new products, categories and collaborations.
Laura Ashley was founded in 1953 by Ashley and her husband, Bernard, from