Laura Ashley was a renowned Welsh fashion and home furnishings designer. She began her career in the 1950s, designing headscarves, napkins, and tea towels in her attic flat in Pimlico, London. Her company became famous for its romantic English country style, featuring rural-inspired prints and natural fabrics that defined a generation's aesthetic. By the time of her death in 1985, the Laura Ashley brand had grown into an international retail empire with hundreds of shops worldwide.