OUR STORY
IN 1989, WE OPENED
A SMALL STORE IN
SANTA MONICA, CA.
There was no blueprint. No business plan. No sense of scale.
But we knew what we wanted.
We wanted homes to feel lived in, not staged.
We wanted beauty and comfort. Romance and function.
A mindful symphony of faded florals, washed linens, soft slipcovers, and pieces that carried the marks of time.
Curated spaces that set the stage for treasures both humble and fancy, that tell stories - and honor the beauty of imperfection.
From the beginning, Shabby Chic® was built by hand and by intuition.
Early floral textiles were printed in Los Angeles. Slipcovers, upholstery, and bedding
made in our local sewing rooms, where craft, care, and human touch mattered.
For many years, our stores offered custom furniture and custom bedding in our signature vintage-inspired prints,
reinforcing a belief in craftsmanship, thoughtful detail, and soulful design.
Making things close to home wasn’t a strategy - it was simply how the brand was built.
AS THE YEARS UNFOLDED,
THE WORLD FOUND SHABBY CHIC®.
By the early 90s, Shabby Chic® had become shorthand for a new way of living.
Artists, musicians, and actors were drawn to its quiet romance and authenticity,
with early clients including Madonna, Kevin Costner, and Pamela Anderson.
As the aesthetic gained momentum, Rachel Ashwell emerged as its defining voice.
Through bestselling coffee table books, our stores and designs, she articulated a philosophy
that resonated deeply - one rooted in comfort, layering, softness, and emotional connection.
Shabby Chic® entered the cultural lexicon.
IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED,
SHABBY GREW - AND SO DID OUR SCOPE.
We opened Shabby Chic® stores across the United States, bringing the brand into new communities and new homes.
Rachel’s television series introduced the philosophy to a global audience, and Oprah’s endorsement of
the now-iconic T-shirt sheets—named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things—marked a pivotal moment of cultural recognition.
Strategic partnerships followed, including Simply Shabby Chic® for Target, expanding access while preserving the brand’s core identity of
faded florals, vintage soul, and effortless beauty. During this period, Rachel also brought Shabby Chic® back to London,
opening a beloved Notting Hill store that reflected the brand’s English roots and romantic spirit.
Like many creative endeavours, Shabby Chic® experienced cycles of growth, challenge and reinvention, emerging with renewed clarity and purpose.
In 2011, Shabby found a new expression in The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell in Texas - a bed-and-breakfast, ranch retreat, and creative sanctuary,
born of Rachel Ashwell’s love of hospitality, where the brand’s philosophy of time-softened beauty, authenticity, and soulful living could be fully experienced.
WHERE THE STORY CONTINUES
In this recent chapter, Rachel has returned to her homeland of England, dividing her time between the English countryside and Los Angeles,
to reimagine a historic country manor - a living expression of the philosophy that began decades ago
and continues to unfold through ongoing creative work and projects.
Rooted in heritage, craftsmanship, and a reverence for time, Meadow Manor reflects
everything Shabby Chic® has always stood for: layered beauty, soulful spaces, and homes that feel deeply human.
Shabby Chic® is more than a look. It is a way of living.
A belief in humble beauty with soul - then, now, and always.
