Laura Ashley

Laura and Bernard Ashley founded the company in 1953 in London (originally as Ashley Mountney Ltd). The firm relocated to Wales in 1961 and went public on the London Stock Exchange in 1985 after Laura's death. The company was later controlled by Malaysian-Chinese businessman Khoo Kay Peng. Laura Ashley Holdings filed for administration in March 2020. On April 22, 2020, Gordon Brothers acquired the brand name, archives, and IP rights out of administration and rebuilt the brand to $750 million in annual retail sales across 80+ countries with 100+ licensees over four years. Marquee Brands acquired Laura Ashley from Gordon Brothers in January 2025; Marquee retained the UK team and opened its first European headquarters in London. The brand was already operating in a fully licensed model when Marquee acquired it.

Already licensed when Marquee bought it - Gordon Brothers (the asset-management firm best known as a liquidator) had already converted the brand to a licensing platform between 2020 and 2025. Marquee bought a licensing platform, not an operating company. The brand had already lost its UK manufacturing during the 1990s decline and never recovered it.