FASHION FIRST
Iconic womenswear brand is making a comeback to the high street – but it’s not where you’ll expect it
Plus we reveal the other high street chains making a comeback
AN iconic womenswear brand is making a comeback to the UK high street.
Fans of Laura Ashley will once again be able to buy their favourite clothing items both online and in stores.
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The posh chain, once known for homeware and clothing, collapsed into administration back in 2020, shutting all of its 153 stores.
In April of that year, Laura Ashley was rescued by the Gordon Brothers firm in April 2020.
Following a collaboration with retail giant Next, it continued to sell homeware and furniture in 48 Next stores across the country.
But now it's finally selling a clothing range too.
The new 47-piece collection is available at selected Next stores, as well as on its website.
It includes a range of dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers, shorts and skirts in sizes six to 22.
Prices range from £26 for a pair of lounge shorts to £85 for a tiered maxi dress.
The range features Laura Ashley’s classic floral heritage prints, high necks and big prairie dresses in traditional brand styles.
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Prints, trims, and accents in the range are said to have drawn inspiration from the 50s and 60s archives with classic patterns such as Salterbeck Posy, Linaria, Wild Cherry and Camelot.
The partnership between Laura Ashley and Next was orchestrated by IMG, Laura Ashley’s licensing representative for fashion in the UK.
All the chains we've loved and lost in recent years
IMG was appointed after the brand was acquired by Gordon Brothers.
Shoppers can browse the new collection on Next's website or at selected Next shops.
The Sun has contacted Next for the full list of sites where shoppers can pick up the range and will update this story when we hear back.
FAN REACTION
Fans of the iconic brand have already reacted to the new offering on social media.
Writing on Instagram, one said: "This is amazing!!!! I’ve already bought a few pieces and they are absolutely gorgeous."
Another wrote: "A beautiful collection."
A third commented: "As a multi-generation Laura Ashley girl, this is so exciting!"
A fourth said: "Thank you so much for bringing it back. I have missed the clothing."
While another posted: "So many beautiful pieces and I’m so happy you are back."
Others reminisced about shopping at the chain back in the day.
One former shopper said: "Such a great news! I got my first dress by the one my mum bought at the end of the 80s and gave me, now I have around 10 dresses which are so precious to me."
A second commented: "So excited, my Laura Ashley dresses are my favourite."
Another wrote: "Loved the old stores, they had a great fragrance too. Please bring that smell back!"
Chains we've loved and lost
THE high street has taken a hit in recent years with more than half a dozen chains shutting vast swatches of stores between them.
Big brand names have crashed into administration leaving empty shop fronts in villages, towns and cities across the UK.
No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and trading as Ted Baker, fell into administration in March after years of turmoil.
Administrators confirmed 15 stores would close in a blow to the high street.
The Body Shop collapsed into administration in February 2024 putting its almost 200 stores at risk of shutting.
Administrators have since earmarked 82 of its branches for permanent closure.
Sixty-six stores have already closed for good, including seven which shut with immediate effect in February.
Popular chain Cath Kidston, which once boasted hundreds of shops around the world, closed the last of its stores for good last June.
It first collapsed into administration in April 2020 with the closure of 60 UK stores and the loss of 908 jobs.
The brand was bought by Next after falling into administration again in March - but the sale didn't include the physical shops.
What other retailers have made a comeback?
It has been a tough time for retailers since Covid and the last few years have seen many vanish from our high streets.
The rising cost of living and expensive rents have all been playing a part in the demise of some of our much-loved high street names.
This week saw the return of the beloved record chain Our Price.
The record store was once a staple of the UK high street from the early 1970s until 2004.
The first store was on London's Finchley Road, and the brand had as many as 300 branches at its peak, making it one of the biggest music store chains in the UK.
Last week Our Price revealed it would be making a return as music lovers will once again be able to buy thousands of vinyls and other merch.
Shoppers can browse the catalogue online for now only, owners have not ruled out the return to physical stores at some point in the future.
Toys R Us is also among those who've managed to make a comeback.
The popular toy brand opened up nine new shops in 2023 after vanishing from the high street in 2018.
However, the new stores are slightly different as they are "shop-in-shops" and are located inside WHSmith stores.
Last year much-loved retailer Wilko fell into administration and closed all of its shops, leaving Brits heartbroken.
However, a glimmer of hope was given when the brand name was scooped up by The Range, in a £5million deal - meaning the name would live on.
Customers were overjoyed after learning the store was being relaunched online, and even more so when in a surprising turn of events, physical branches started to open up again.
Locations have since popped up Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans and Rotherham.
In October last year, Paperchase also made a return after closing all of its 134 shops and concessions earlier in the year.
Fans of the brand were devastated when the retailer disappeared from the high street in April after falling into administration.
However, supermarket giant Tesco stepped in and bought the rights to the brand and then went on to launch it in some of its stores.
A total of 261 Tesco stores now stock Paperchase products - we have the full list here.
M&Co, previously called Mackay’s, fell into administration for the second time in two years in December 2022.
Fellow retailer Yours Clothing bought the M&Co brand and intellectual property.
The retailer launched a new M&Co website in June 2023 and The Sun exclusively revealed its plans to open up physical stores starting in May 2024.
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