Cambridge Satchel

Faced with the daunting task of paying her children’s tuition bills, Londoner Julie Deane—along with her mother, Freda Thomas—came up with a business idea. Working from Deane's kitchen table, they officially launched Cambridge Satchel bags, a cheerful line of roomy, two-strap, buckled leather handbags, in 2008. In less than a year, the label went from a humble enterprise funded by £600 (Deane's entire savings), to a multimillion-dollar brand. Today, Cambridge Satchel crossbodies, mini bags, and backpacks are spotted everywhere, from fashion week, to VIP parties, to street-style blogs.