{"id":163250,"date":"2020-10-31T14:23:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-31T14:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theindustry.fashion\/laura-ashley-to-relaunch-next-year-in-partnership-with-next\/"},"modified":"2021-08-06T12:08:49","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T12:08:49","slug":"laura-ashley-to-relaunch-next-year-in-partnership-with-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theindustry.fashion\/laura-ashley-to-relaunch-next-year-in-partnership-with-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Laura Ashley to relaunch next year in partnership with Next"},"content":{"rendered":"
Laura Ashley will be relaunching in 2021 in partnership with high street fashion and home giant Next.<\/strong> The brand will reintroducing its homeware into Next stores and online after the two British retailers brokered a deal this month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The move comes after 67-year-old Laura Ashley, known for its floral fashions and homewares, filed for administration in March,<\/strong> announcing it would\u00a0permanently close 70 stores and cut 268 office jobs while furloughing more than 1,500 workers.<\/p>\n Laura Ashley hired PwC to advise on the administration process, blaming the impact of coronavirus for tipping it over the edge. In April<\/a> the global advisory, restructuring, and investment firm, Gordon Brothers,\u00a0acquired the global Laura Ashley brand, archives, and related intellectual property<\/strong> from its administrators.<\/p>\n Gordon Brothers is now resurrecting Laura Ashley with \u201ca British team of designers<\/strong> continuing to fly the flag\u201d for the brand, according to a spokesperson.<\/p>\n Laura Ashley head of brand and partnerships Poppy Marshall-Lawton said she was \u201cvery pleased\u201d to be partnering with Next.\u00a0She said: \u201cWe felt partnering with such a dynamic and British retailer such as Next was the perfect progression<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cLaura Ashley herself was always inspired by the past but excited about the future, so getting the chance to reinvigorate the brand is a perfect new chapter<\/strong> in our already fabulous story.\u201d<\/p>\n Next CEO Simon Wolfson, added that the business was \u201cdelighted\u201d to be partnering with Gordon Brothers and Laura Ashley.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWe believe that the combination of the design vision of the Laura Ashley team alongside Next\u2019s online and retail infrastructure<\/strong> can combine to revitalise this world-class brand.\u201d<\/p>\n The partnership will see Next stock a selection. of upholstered furniture, home fragrance, mail order flowers and a new nursery range.<\/p>\n