Russell George MS pays tribute to Fashion & Textile Designer Icon Laura Ashley on Women's International Day in the Senedd Welsh Assembly and the Heritage Hub for Mid Wales which has organised the Laura Ashley Heritage Quilt Exhibition in Newtown Powys to celebrate Bernard & Laura Ashley 70th Anniversary of their legacy.

Laura Ashley whilst working as a secretary for the National Federation of Women's Institutes visited a patchwork exhibition and this inspired her to develop her own printed textiles literally on her kitchen table in her home in London. After developing primitive textile printing and creating products like tea towels and head scarves this led to major orders and her journey to set up her home office and shop in Machynlleth Mid Wales.

It was in here in the Welsh hills and valleys of Montgomeryshire that  enriched their passion for this global phenomenon of this iconic brand lifestyle of Laura Ashley in the heart of Mid Wales.

Bernard & Laura Ashley would often comment and have said that their dream team in Mid Wales played a significant role in the success of their family business.

The mission of the Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales is to raise the aspirations of the heritage custodians and local authorities to digitally preserve the social history and heritage of this family business that became a global success. Provided economic regeneration for local communities worldwide by creating employment for thousands of families who worked for Laura Ashley.

The Heritage Hub is also campaigning for a physical Heritage and Educational Hub for Bernard & Laura Ashley in the heart of Mid Wales. Which would enable students and visitors to access archives and memories of this global brand which is embedded in the fabric of societies here in Mid Wales and around the world.