Sportswear: Tory's Turn

VITAL STATISTICS:

NAME TORY BURCH

CURRENT JOB CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TORY BURCH

FIRST JOB ASSISTANT TO ZORAN

INSIDE TRACK WORKED WITH REED KRAKOFF AND VERA WANG AT RALPH LAUREN

CLAIM TO FAME DATES LANCE ARMSTRONG

WHAT TORY BURCH HAS accomplished in the past 3 1/2 years is nothing short of impressive. Seemingly overnight she went from full-time mom—a title she accepted after years of working at Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang and Harper's Bazaar—to woman on the fast track to becoming a mega-brand. When she launched her eponymous company in 2004, Burch eschewed the traditional slow-growth route and dove right in with a complete product range of clothes and accessories, even candles. If Burch's luxe '60s- and '70s-inspired designs are a manifestation of her high-fashion pedigree, the price tags are anything but. "I really wanted to fill a missing niche that I saw in the market at the time," says Burch. "It was important to me that our clothes were easy to wear and were priced so women could afford them." Looks as if the strategy is working. It's nearly impossible to walk down a city street without seeing a pair of Burch's Reva ballet flats, complete with her bold T-logo medallion on the toe.