When Batsheva Hay first collaborated with Laura Ashley on a line of floral dresses and home goods last fall, she didn't know what to expect. "I had this obsession with Laura Ashley and I knew people were buying vintage Laura Ashley on Etsy and all of that," Hay tells BAZAAR.com. "But I had no idea what the response would be."

Cut to launch day: Orders flooded the Batsheva website, leading to all-nighters at the office, sold-out products, and DMs from shoppers that Hay describes as "exploding with joy."

"I’d never received so many orders in a day," she recalls.

Now, there are more ruffled sleeves and distinctive prints—and, likely, an overwhelming response—where the first collection came from. Batsheva X Laura Ashley have returned for a summer collaboration, available online now.

batsheva hay wears a strawberry print dress from her collaboration with laura ashley while standing on a double decker bus in new york city
Alexei Hay

The summer collection includes a few of Batsheva's best-selling dresses remixed in Laura Ashley prints, plus entirely new silhouettes for the capsule. Whether in a midi dress mixing green florals with hot-pink accents, or a mini dress coated in pastel blossoms, this second collaboration is pure summer fun, with prints that embody a lighter, breezier season. "For me, Laura Ashley was always about that summer moment," Hay says.

X Laura Ashley Mini Prairie Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Mini Prairie Dress
Now 33% Off
$100 at batsheva.com
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley May Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley May Dress
Now 54% Off
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley Beaumaris Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Beaumaris Dress
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley Ruthin Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Ruthin Dress
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley Mini Prairie Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Mini Prairie Dress
Now 33% Off
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley Beaumaris Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Beaumaris Dress
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley May Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley May Dress
Credit: Batsheva
X Laura Ashley Ruthin Dress
Batsheva X Laura Ashley Ruthin Dress
Credit: Batsheva

Five pieces—two dresses, two blouses, and a skirt—feature an archival strawberry print at the core of Hay's own Laura Ashley memories. "I really remember it. My grandmother would always bring us strawberries and wear strawberry print Laura Ashley."

batsheva hay wears a floral print dress in front of the new york city skyline from the batsheva hay x laura ashley second collection
Alexei Hay
batsheva hay wears a strawberry print dress from the batseva x laura ashley collaboration while standing on top of a double decker bus
Alexei Hay

Chintzy prints, ruffled hems, and all-over florals fit for a picnic may be used throughout the collection, but don't call it cottagecore.

"I love the style—Laura Ashley is the O.G. #cottagecore or whatever," Hay says. "I love the source of it and the inspiration. I don’t like the cheesiness of the commercialization of it. There’s something so unfresh about 'cottagecore'—it makes me cringe."

Cheesy, this collection is not. Hay's well-documented love for Laura Ashley is a level above an internet aesthetic trend, as is the deep brand history her collaboration pulls from. "Being able to run through a digital archive, it’s full of prints I remember so deeply and ones that I’ve never seen before that are amazing and weird," she explains. "It’s being able to pull from the unseen depths of this heritage brand—things that will never be seen unless someone like me digs."

batsheva hay wears a yellow floral print blouse from her collaboration with laura ashley while standing on top of a double decker bus
Alexei Hay

Collaborating with her lifelong inspiration has reinforced Hay's understanding of her own brand, making the second installment of their partnership that much more special.

"What I love about [Laura Ashley] is that it feels not too cool. And that’s a big tenet for me: No matter how edgy some people may view my brand, it is still really about fun and everyone has access to it," Hay says. "It’s clothing for every woman, every person, in a way."

The second Batsheva x Laura Ashley capsule is available online at batsheva.com, as well as Net-a-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, and MatchesFashion.

Lettermark
Halie LeSavage
Fashion Commerce Editor

Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.