Laura Ashley acquired by Marquee Brands

The strategic acquisition, which was announced today (2 January), retains Laura Ashley’s UK-based team and expands Marquee Brands’ global footprint with the opening of its first European headquarters in London.

Founded in 1953, Laura Ashley is known for delicate florals and vintage-inspired motifs across a range of products and categories. It is distributed in more than 80 countries through wholesalers, digital marketplaces, and at more than 150 branded retail locations globally.

Marquee Brands - the owner of Ben Sherman - said by leveraging its global network, it was poised to deepen Laura Ashley’s presence, driving new business across North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, EMEA and other key regions. The addition of Laura Ashley increases the retail value of Marquee Brands’ global portfolio to $4 (£3.23) billion, the company said.

“Laura Ashley’s licensed business model and robust group of high-quality partners makes the brand a seamless addition to Marquee Brands. We are excited to harness the strong affinity for this iconic brand and drive expansion across new platforms and partnerships,” said Heath Golden, CEO of Marquee Brands.

“With the existing UK team in place, we are primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley’s seven-decade legacy to unlock its future potential as a full lifestyle brand innovating new products and categories, offering unique collaborations and engaging multi-generational audiences in key markets worldwide,” he said.

Gordon Brothers acquired the Laura Ashley brand out of insolvency in 2020 “and built a flexible, scalable licensing business and a global e-commerce presence over the last four years”, said Tobias Nanda, head of brands at Gordon Brothers.

“We could not be prouder of Laura Ashley’s growth under Carolyn D’Angelo’s leadership, the former president of Laura Ashley, and know the brand is in the right hands for continued global growth under Marquee Brands’ leadership,” he said.

The acquisition of Laura Ashley comes after Marquee Brands bolstered its executive team with the appointments of Rachel Terrace as chief commercial and growth officer, John Hayes as chief financial Officer, Joseph Zarro as chief business development officer and Natasha Fishman as chief marketing officer over the last year, to support its growth.