Few names in British fashion evoke the romance of rural life and the charm of the countryside quite like Laura Ashley. Born from humble beginnings in a kitchen in Wales, her eponymous label became synonymous with nostalgic femininity, artisanal quality, and nature-led design. The Made in Wales collection was not just a marker of origin—it was a statement of ethos: a celebration of craftsmanship, domestic heritage, and enduring style rooted in tradition.

One of Laura Ashley’s most beloved motifs was her deer print—a delicate yet bold ode to the natural world. The deer, often symbolising grace, wild beauty, and quiet strength, reflected Ashley’s ability to capture the poetics of the British landscape in a print. Rendered in earthy tones and often paired with her signature florals, the deer print stood as a quiet rebellion against mass-market fashion: a declaration of connection to land, story, and identity.

This ethos lives on in contemporary reinterpretations—like Olivia Annabelle. Designed and made in Cheshire, Olivia Annabelle takes inspiration from Ashley’s romantic legacy but spins it with a distinctly mythical and medieval twist. Where Laura Ashley conjured deer beneath canopies of wild roses, Olivia Annabelle imagines dragons curling through brocade forests, heraldic symbols nestled in tapestry-like repeats, and renaissance maidens reborn in structured silhouettes. It is where folklore meets fashion—rooted in the same values of quality craftsmanship, British production, and narrative-rich textiles.

Just as Laura Ashley’s Made in Wales pieces were imbued with a sense of place and purpose, Olivia Annabelle’s designs echo with the folklore of Britain’s green hills, the drama of Arthurian legend, and a belief in clothes that tell stories. The past is not a relic—it’s a palette.

Both brands, in their own ways, invite us to step into a more thoughtful fashion future—one where garments carry memory, meaning, and a sense of timeless enchantment.