When Kristin Kahle's mother insisted that she dress better at work, Kristin threw some colorful old material around her lackluster jeans and all of a sudden had style. When colleagues asked about it, she realized that she had more than style—she had the beginnings of a design business. A year later, the Kristin Kahle (pronounced kay-lee) collection of belts made from vintage fabrics has a following, some of whom own a dozen or more of her designs. The Pucci-like cotton and silk patterns are backed by sturdy webbing, which gives the belts a solid feel. Buckles come in wood, brass, and silver. The belts are selling like crazy at boutiques in Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco, but they haven't yet arrived here. New Yorkers who want to be ahead of the curve can buy them directly from the website for around $130.

Order online at kristinkahle.com.