Laura Ashley celebrated the company’s 70th anniversary and the festival’s finale with a special event at the historic Aiken-Rhett House Museum
Grand Wagoneer with custom Laura Ashley interiors.
We have always felt a special connection to the South. Not only is Laura Ashley’s U.S. headquarters in South Carolina, but the commitment to a beautiful life runs deep in both Laura Ashley’s English country lifestyle and the Southern lifestyle.
As the presenting sponsor of the finale of the Historic Charleston Foundation’s 76th Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens, Laura Ashley is proud to support its mission of preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of the city.
Historic Charleston Foundation’s annual Festival of Houses & Gardens has provided a rare opportunity to go inside some of the most historic and beautiful homes and gardens in Charleston, SC for 76 years – all highlighting Charleston’s rich history and culture.
Beneath the grand live oaks at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, the Festival Finale: Mimosas at the Museum was not only a toast to one of the country’s largest and longest house and garden festivals but also a chance to celebrate Laura Ashley’s 70th Anniversary and the brand’s iconic prints and luxe home collections.
by Sweet Build Custom Cookies.
Alongside a mini pop-up archive celebrating Laura Ashley’s 70th Anniversary and rich history in design, guests got a chance to experience the grandeur of the historic Aiken-Rhett House Museum property, an 1820s antebellum mansion unique in its preserved-as-found style, for short tours and talks.
The Festival Finale also unveiled the Laura Ashley Jeep Grand Wagoneer, a newly restored 1987 vehicle with custom interiors including Laura Ashley fabrics. A study of Laura Ashley’s iconic prints and nostalgia, the Wagoneer has been reenvisioned and restored by Southern hospitality and lifestyle experts Jennifer and Michael Satterfield of @growinguptexas.
Artisans and creators came together to celebrate with event demonstrations following in the brand founder Laura Ashley’s footsteps rooted in entrepreneurial ambition and traditional values of quality and originality.
Laura Ashley inspired florals during the live event.
Laura Ashley inspired shells.
Guests also enjoyed live music by the Hollifield Band, a Lowcountry brunch, mimosas, and a tea and coffee bar in beautiful surroundings decorated in Laura Ashley prints.
Established in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the history, architecture, and culture of Charleston. In its 76th year, the Foundation is known for its preservation and advocacy programs, including protective covenants and easements; education, and outreach; and it is the first organization in the country to establish a revolving fund to acquire and preserve historic buildings, a model now replicated in historic communities across the nation.
As part of the 70th-anniversary celebration, guests were treated to prints and silhouettes inspired by Laura Ashley’s famous archives. Some of the prints featured a walk down memory lane with prints that were first introduced in the 1990s, including Bramble, an elegant floral print featuring blossoms and berries that recently appeared in the Laura Ashley X Batsheva Autumn Winter 2022 collection. This print was inspired by a piece of velvet upholstery from a chair which we believe dates back to the late 1800’s.
Other prints included were Trefoil, a print inspired by an antique textile that Mrs. Ashley saw on a visit to France; Wickerwork, a pattern inspired by decorative antique book pages; and Wood Violet, a popular print for the bedroom that was inspired by antique patterns Mrs. Ashley also found while in France.
It was a gorgeous day for the sold-out event, and we loved celebrating with long-time Laura Ashley fans and new friends alike. Let us know if you have ever been lucky enough to visit Charleston or attend the Historic Charleston Foundation Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens by commenting below, or tagging us at @lauraashleyusa or #lauraashleyusa.
