[4] Ashida first became interested in fashion design when he saw the clothes that one of his older brothers had brought back from a trip to the United States.
[6] Three years later, Ashida and his wife, Tomoko, launched their first clothing label Teru kōbō (テル工房) in 1963.
[6] Starting from 1966, Ashida became the personal designer for Empress Michiko, an appointment that lasted for ten years.
This opportunity with the Imperial House of Japan came when he first tailored a suit for a young Akihito, who was a Crown Prince at the time.
[6] After departing from his role with the Imperial House of Japan in 1976, Ashida presented his first Paris collection the following year.
He designed the official uniforms of the Japanese national teams for the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, as well as the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
[4] For his contributions to fashion, Ashida was awarded a purple ribbon Medal of Honor by the Japanese government in 1991.