Best known for the beauty and brains behind cult online jewellery boutique WWW.MYFLASHTRASH.COM Amber Atherton was born and raised in Hong Kong, where her father, a pilot for Cathay Pacific, and family were based. After attending international school in the Caribbean and Hong Kong, aged 11 Amber was sent to board in the UK, attending Benenden School in Kent.
Amber’s passion for building brands began at the age of 9, when she set up a website selling books and CD’s- receiving her first cheque in the post for a NO DOUBT album the day before her 10th birthday. A self-proclaimed tech kid ‘I would spend my weekend making Flash animations or writing code!’ Amber’s pre-teen years saw her dabble in everything from starting an e-cards websites, cuddly toy companies, a trucker hat label, personalised apparel business and a teen magazine, until age 16 MYFLASHTRASH was born out of the amateur import export business she was running out of her dorm at boarding school.
At 15, Amber was scouted by Premier Model Management and enjoyed a successful modelling career, which saw her grace the glossy pages of Vogue, Love, Harper’s Bazaar, The Sunday Times Style and Tatler. A brief flirtation with acting saw her star in Hong Kong hit film Naked Weapon and alongside Ed Westwick in UK rom-com Chalet Girl. As her presence grew society magazines began to profile her as websites such as VOGUE.COM and STYLE.COM picked up on her wardrobe choices.
Amber’s interest in Luxury Brand Management developed through chance meetings with two directors at PPR and Bulgari, so age 16 she began what would be a internship journey working at over 11 companies including the likes of Hermes, Vogue and The Saturday Group.
In 2010 Amber began to study at London College of Fashion for a BA degree in Fashion Management. Continuing to develop MYFLASHTRASH.COM alongside her studies, it was a year later that Venture Capital Firms started to become interested in the brand and its community of loyal fans including The Duchess of Cambridge, Rita Ora, Kelly Brooke and her friends Edie Campbell, Tallulah Harlech, Bip Ling and Felicity Jones to name but a few.
Earlier that year Amber started working with a producer at Monkey Kingdom on a new reality show concept that would blend Gossip Girl and The Hills but set in London. Involved from an early stage, Amber helped create the pilot of the show that is now known as Made in Chelsea– the hugely popular TV series on Channel 4.
A recognised name in the Fashion and Tech scene, Amber regularly speaks at conferences and schools on enterprise, social branding and marketing. Amber currently lives in Bloomsbury with her sister Yasmin and a kitten- Brioche.
A brief selection of Interviews available online
THE HUFFINGTON POST JAN 2013
‘IS FAME GOOD FOR BUSINESS?’ BUSINESS INSIDER JAN 2013
THE KERNEL SEPT 2012
PRESTIGE AUG 2012
STELLA – 14 Aug 2011
YOU Magazine ‘The Sloaney Gossip– 12 Jun 2011
RDUJOUR– 26 May 2011
VANESSA JACKMAN– 17 Apr 2010
DAILY MAIL ‘The IT girl who doesn’t rely on Daddy‘- 2 Jan 2011
ARTS LONDON NEWS– 27 Jan 2011
