Last time Garden City Life heard from Lilly Ashley's CEO, the young Garden City resident's growing accessories business was celebrating its two-year anniversary. Now, Ashley's Ocean Beach, Fire Island store, the company's flagship, is enjoying its fourth season of business.

Ashley's sister, Morgan, has taken a more hands-on role too. The Garden City High School varsity cheerleader has been running Lilly Ashley's operations while Ashley was attending her freshman year at the University of Georgia. Morgan designed the New York-based brand's new tennis line, which Ashley said has been selling fast in resort towns like Martha's Vineyard and Palm Beach. "She has an amazing talent for detail and solely designed our new baby line," Ashley said of her sister.

Morgan believes her and her sister's strengths complement each other. "It has been great to work with my sister, Ashley, designing and expanding our business," Morgan said.

Lilly Ashley's signature ribbon designs - everything from flamingos, bees, shamrocks and dragonflies - which adorn popular accessories like grosgrain ribbon belts, headbands, tote bags, key fobs and children's items - can now be found in more than 300 stores around the country, including The Pear Tree right here in Garden City.

"Lilly Ashley has been growing the resort line each season and our stores have selected Lilly Ashley as a regular line. Buyers come to the Javits Center and visit our reps at shows in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, etc. We have a large presence in southern states, in New England and in resort towns all along the eastern and southern seaboards," the 2007 Garden City High School graduate turned college fashion design and journalism major said.

Lilly Ashley has expanded into the children's market too, Ashley said, assuring that the designs are still preppy with a kick. "Not only do you see lobsters and whales on belts, they are now on dresses, sweaters, shorts," she said. A children's line has already been integrated with a baby line set to launch next spring.

Ashley recently spent six weeks in Australia, traveling with approximately 200 people from the University of Georgia, including four of her Delta Zeta sorority sisters. The trip, part of a university program, enabled Ashley to receive six science credits toward her degree. She traveled through Brisbane, Sidney and even spent time on Lady Elliot Island. Once graduated, she plans to work at a magazine with the goal of eventually launching her own. Her business has been featured in magazines like Ellegirl, Childen's Business, Earnshaws and Teen People.

Customers have lots to look out for in 2009, including a new signature store targeted for Charlotte, NC. Also new for 2009 will be the introduction of the "Rush Collection," a line targeted toward college students going through sorority rush.

"This is an exciting time for Lilly Ashley. Retailers consider Lilly Ashley a regular line in their store. The children's line has received lots of positive attention and the baby line has previewed very well. Coming in spring 2009 are bathing suits and an expansion of the tennis line," Ashley added.

Visit www.lillyashley.com to learn more. Products sell for $12- $78.