"For my family the word “fashion” means to make something. My father was a printer, my mother was a revivalist, so together they manufactured some products and supplied them to retailers. Then they started opening their own shops, the full vertically integrated formula was set and we (because I had joined the party) kept opening shops around the world, and opening print works and sewing factories to supply them. 

At one stage we were the biggest industry in mid wales after farming. 

"At one stage we were the biggest industry in Mid-Wales after farming."

"I didn't meet my Grandmother Laura Ashley, but... I did meet my Grandfather Bernard, and he was half of the business. He was a mad maverick with a mission and he never let anyone push him down. When I was nine he had me designing prints for him!

As I have got older I have asked more and more questions about my Grandmother and I have realised she had a fierce strength that had a deep root in her loyalty, I definitely have this trait.

"...it was a company built by a Mother, Father, children and an entire Welsh community."

"The inspiration for the prints can come from a diverse range of sources - the gardens surrounding Texplan, the hedgerows of Wid Wales, an archive Laura Ashley print or a small piece of wallpaper or fabric from earlier centuries.

Brian Jones, ...still has some of the original notes and examples sent by Mrs Laura Ashley. She was a tireless collector of items such as old fabric and lace, music hall posters, porcelain figures, old jar handles and books.

Brian has created some of the company's best selling prints including Alba Roses,