Ashley Burghardt's infatuation for design was founded at an early age when her
grandmother first taught her to sew. This childhood hobby became an impassioned
dream as Ashley created a variety of dresses, purses, and swimsuits while in high-
school. She then followed that dream to Texas Tech University in order to pursue a
degree in Apparel Design and Manufacturing. As a design student, Ashley ventured to
Florence for a semester abroad where she studied at Florence University of the Arts
and discovered her niche: Accessories design.
The skills Ashley acquired through the ADM and FUA programs proved
invaluable as she claimed a coveted internship with a high-end handbag and shoe line,
Be&D, which required a move to New York City after graduation. Her collegiate
experience coupled with a prestigious internship afforded Ashley a soaring start to her
career as an assistant designer on Coach's Reed Krakoff Collection. She later moved
to Dallas where she was the head designer of a small accessories company before
branching out to launch her own accessories line. ASHARD RICHLEY debuted in
October of 2009 offering Ashley's unique take on handbags that combines fashion, form
& function. Since the company's inception, the creative line has collected a
surmountable number of accolades including appearances in several local and national
magazines as well as featured on many television series. ASHARD RICHLEY
handbags can also be found in over one hundred stores in the United States, Canada,
and Costa Rica.
Ashley, as a blossoming designer, mustered many honors herself. She
appeared draped in a stunning Armani dress amidst the Dallas Symphony Hall in D-
Magazine's 2010 edition of Dallas' Ten Most Beautiful Women. Ashley was also
listed amongst the state's top twenty designers by Texas Next Top Designer and was
a coach to a young Dallas girl on MTV's hit show, Made. Her most recent notable
triumph was on the new Lifetime series 24 Hour Catwalk where she competed against
three other talented designers to craft a collection within one day. Ashley's designs
championed the runway and a monetary grand prize. Her episode can be found at
MyLifetime.com. This victory has escalated Ashley to a higher level amongst the design
industry and demonstrated her enthralling tenacity. She is a creative figure to watch
and a name to know that will not soon be forgotten.