Molly Huggins was born Molly Green in Singapore in 1907, the daughter of a colonial resident in Malaya. Partly brought up by maiden aunts in Scotland, she was educated at Roedean School. Early in her career, Huggins worked as a secretary for a doctor in London. She had 'great fun' breaking the General Strike of 1926, and had several relationships before marrying Sir John Huggins, sixteen years her senior, in Kuala Lumpur in 1929. The couple had three daughters, including the fashion journalist Cherry Hambro.