Laura Ashley, one of the worlds best loved fashion and home furnishings companies comes from humble beginnings. Laura and Bernard Ashley started printing fabric on their kitchen table in London in 1953, following a Womens Institute exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum on traditional handicrafts. In April 2007 the company launched its first range of organic cotton fashion the Archive Collection, based on Laura Ashley styles and prints from the 1960s and 70s. 2007 has also seen the company receive the House and Garden award for Design Retailer of the Year, voted for by the magazines readers, which acknowledges a retailer who has provided the best shopping experience in the past 18 months, both through the products sold, and the way they are displayed.