LONDON (13 April 2022) – Iconic brand Laura Ashley® has appointed IMG to expand fashion, home and lifestyle products that reflect the illustrious British heritage brand in a fresh, modern way in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East.

The multi-year deal will see IMG work with the brand to create new Laura Ashley apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty and homeware items through carefully selected licensing and retail partnerships and collaborations.

Founded in 1953 in a flat in Pimlico, London by the husband-and-wife team of Bernard and Laura Ashley, the brand began with printed fabrics and headscarves and became internationally renowned for fabrics, home furnishings, apparel and accessories adorned by its signature designs, prints and patterns.

Laura Ashley’s iconic aesthetic continues to resonate around the world throughout interiors and wardrobes. Laura Ashley successfully relaunched a home collection in 2021 with its main retail partner NEXT plc on a dedicated ecommerce platform and in over 50 NEXT stores across the UK.

Carolyn D’Angelo, Managing Director, Brands at Gordon Brothers and President of Laura Ashley, commented: “We are excited to be working with IMG to expand the brand globally. Following the success of our spring home collection relaunch and fall fashion collaboration last year, it is clear there is a strong customer appetite for a new wave of Laura Ashley lifestyle products. We look forward to seeing the first designs of our 2023 fashion relaunch spring to life for the brand’s 70th anniversary and for the next generation of Laura Ashley customers.”

Tim Smith, Vice President, IMG, commented: “For almost 70 years, Laura Ashley’s iconic, quality-led designs, prints and patterns have continued to inspire the most coveted styles and fashion trends around the world. We are eager to leverage this rich heritage and the Laura Ashley archive, comprising more than 98,000 pieces of unique artwork, textiles and footage, to develop relevant new fashion and lifestyle products for existing and new fans of the brand.”

For more information on Laura Ashley, visit www.lauraashley.com.

For more information on licensing opportunities in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East, visit www.imglicensing.com.

About Laura Ashley
Celebrating timeless designs, signature prints and quintessentially British styles since 1953, Laura Ashley is one of Britain’s most beloved home & lifestyle brands. Relaunched for spring 2021, the current collection sees the return of best-selling ranges, customer favourite prints as well as beautiful new designs inspired by the rich heritage of the Laura Ashley archive. www.lauraashley.com

About Gordon Brothers
Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, operating executives, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, operations, and financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to put assets to their highest and best use. The firm conducts more than $70 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short- and long-term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invest in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond our market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents.

About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.