The shirt says “Rich Girl,” but designer Jacquelynne Lethridge wants to set the record straight.

“This is not about how much money you have,” she said. “It’s about how rich your qualities are as a woman.”

For Lethridge humility, kindness, integrity and strength are a few key characteristics that make someone rich. Her goal is to make other folks feel like that through fashion.

Lethridge's passion for design started when she was in high school. She made her own prom dresses, created sketches for friends and family and eventually went on to study fashion design in college. In 2004, she started J. Richelle Fashions and worked endless hours to establish herself. A graduate of the Academy of Arts, she spent a number of years doing fashion shows and working with local artists and promotions companies.

After a short break from the Bay Area fashion circuit, Lethridge needed to create a product that would help with visibility and branding. She opted for the Rich Girl and Rich Guy shirts, which play on her middle name Richell and her hometown of Richmond, California. In 2008, her line debuted at A Diva’s Closet. Now the men’s version can be found at So Dapper and there is an exclusive T-shirt available at Inkwell Tattoo. In addition to the three Oakland boutiques, the shirts can be purchased online.

This week, Lethridge will debut her newest addition to the Rich Girl/Rich Guy collection. Pushing her mission to redefine “Rich,” she’s introducing shirts that list all of the qualities that are important to her. They are the same caring and charitable traits that led her to team up with accessories company Head Bangers and create a prom dress for a young Oakland student.

“They reached out to me to make her dream dress come true,” explains Lethridge who donated her services, “I was so honored that they trusted me to make that happen.”

Now Lethridge's sights are set on expanding the brand even more in 2011.

"It will be a whole new J. Richell," she said.