“Passionate” is a term that describes Cortiglia founder Jill LaCorte’s approach to business and to life. As a mom trying to get back into shape after the birth of her second son, she discovered tennis and fell in love. In fact, she enjoys the game so much that just three weeks after the birth of her third son, she was back on the court playing in a tournament.

It was this passion for tennis combined with an equally strong affinity for fashion that led her to create her Cortiglia designer tennis bag line and the company behind them. Tired of carrying her rackets and gear in formless, oversized duffles and unable to find something more stylish, she used skills honed at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising to develop a new category of tennis bags that elegantly combines form and function.

Today, her products are carried by everyone from enthusiastic amateurs to seasoned professionals. Hand-crafted in Italy from the finest leathers, nylon and hardware, Cortiglia tennis bags are at home both on and off the court. And through collaborations with tennis pros like 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli, whose dynamic designs have earned rave reviews, the Cortiglia line continues to expand.

Cortiglia’s tremendous success has allowed Jill to indulge another of her passions: her strong desire to help others develop a love of the game. In a program created to equip and encourage young women in Africa as they learn to play tennis, Cortiglia donates bags and accessories. Jill is also an art lover and a supporter of fine art in the U.S. Through projects with aspiring and established artists - her Art Basel Collection being one example - she is able to help them further their careers while at the same time contributing to charities they support.

When she’s not busy designing and promoting the Cortiglia line, Jill enjoys spending time with her three sons and Shelby, her Weimaraner, at their Northern California home.