Markham Johnson
Iconic Sport
Leslie Chow left a high-tech career that included stints with NASA and a Silicon Valley consulting firm in order to design women's clothing. As an avid golfer, Chow knew just where to start. "A lot of what's out there was designed either by women who aren't golfers or by men who just downsize what they're making for men," says the 49-year-old. Chow used $125,000 in savings to launch San Francisco-based Iconic Sport in January. The company's line includes tops with slits on each side for easier movement and skirts with pockets deep enough to hold a couple of golf balls and angled to accommodate a scorecard. And, best of all, no belt loops.