Busting out of the boutiques

Fashion Week descends on New York City's Bryant Park this week and next. Amid tents filled with those who have already made it, a small band of entrepreneurial designers are claiming lucrative deals. Here are five creative small-business owners who, insiders say, will soon be global brands.

Chris Benz
New York City
Chris Benz

If Marc Jacobs and J. Crew collaborated, the result would look a lot like Benz's clothes. That's appropriate, because the 25-year-old worked at both places before launching his own line last year.

Though he has produced only two full collections, the critical praise for the Seattle native has been loud and unanimous, from the New York Times to Women's Wear Daily. On the horizon is an eyewear collection and a jewelry partnership with Lulu Frost. Can a Target line be far behind?

Last updated February 01 2008: 11:26 AM ET

Chris Benz

Katy Rodriguez

Rachel Comey

Band of Outsiders

Red Carter
Small businesses and artisans are creating some of the most alluring jewelry, housewares, edibles and other indulgences. Check out FSB's top picks. (more)
Flying the friendly skies? Carry your belongings in these fashionable cases made by small companies. (more)
Lingerie retailer Bare Necessities spiced up sales by making it easier for women to find undergarments that fit online. (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.