Lauren Cecchi’s future as a fashionista was sewed up by age 5, from crafting with her grandmother to dressing up in her mother’s “over-the-top” bridesmaid gowns from the ’80s. Even her favorite action figure, Marvel superhero Storm, was a style icon, with her flowing white mane and matching cape.

Today the 29-year-old CEO and creative director of Lauren Cecchi New York sells her Italian leather handbags—hand-stitched in New York’s Garment District—primarily in boutique stores and online at laurencecchi.com and Amazon.