Blue Ivy Carter just put her stamp of approval on the next It bag.
The 2025 Super Bowl had everything this year: A great game, an unforgettable halftime performance, and some of the best fashion we’ve seen at a football game (maybe ever?). This is in no short part thanks to the one and only Blue Ivy Carter, who showed up wearing a pair of denim cargo trousers, a black jacket, and, notably, a leather purse by 25-year-old designer Ashley Ciriaco.
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The bag has been dubbed an it girl bag by critics and magazines alike – it makes sense, then, that Blue Ivy would be wearing it on her arm as she quickly follows in her family’s fashionable footsteps.
The Ashley Minimalist Baguette in leopard is still available for preorder, but the style comes in different patterns too. There are also vegan and real leather versions of the bag – the former is made with avocado skin, according to the designer.
We needed to know more about the person behind this coveted bag, so we took some time to get to know her. Below, meet Ashley Ciriaco and learn all about how her brand came to life.
Tell us a little bit about you! Where did you grow up?
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and later moved to the Poconos in Pennsylvania during middle school, where I stayed until I graduated high school. At 18, I moved to New York to attend Berkeley College, where I studied fashion and marketing.
How did you get your start in fashion and design?
I have been passionate about fashion for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was inspired by shows like That’s So Raven and Sex and the City, which fuelled my love for style and creativity. I would often trace over fashion templates to improve my sketching and designing skills, always striving to perfect my craft.
How did the minimalist baguette come to life?
The Ashley Minimalist Baguette was originally sketched in 2017 during a difficult period in my life. One night, I was inspired by the shape of the crescent moon, but the design actually started as a mistake. Instead of erasing it, I decided to embrace it and let the idea flow naturally. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I invested in a sewing machine and created a sample of the bag. After sharing it on Instagram, I received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, which made me realise that I didn’t need to wait until after college to pursue my dream of becoming a fashion designer.
Some people are calling the bag an it-girl bag – what do you think about that?
It’s an amazing and inspiring feeling. That is exactly how I want anyone wearing Ciriaco to feel — confident, empowered, and effortlessly standing out.
What’s next for your brand?
Next for Ciriaco is expanding beyond handbags and accessories into clothing. After a long wait and careful development, I am also excited to finally launch the Ciriaco Wedge Pumps in 2025. This marks a major milestone for the brand, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming next.
A version of this story originally appeared on Teen Vogue.