Women Making Beautiful Things

Roberta Freymann made a name for herself as an importer of tunics, robes and shifts, and now she's branched out into home furnishings. It's all sold through her New York City boutique, Roberta Roller Rabbit. Although her collections come from around the world, there is a heavy influence from India. "A shimmering piece of silk can still stop my heart," she says.

Born in London, Roberta translated a love of travel into a career as a retail executive—including stints with Ann Taylor and Laura Ashley—bringing the beauty of other cultures home to American customers.