Profile : Perry Ellis

Perry Ellis was born in 1940 and died in 1986 but his fashion legacy lives. His famous quote “I don’t make fashion, I make clothes” is still as profound on the day he uttered the words up to now which echoes through the brand that he left behind.

Perry Ellis was born in Virginia on March 3, 1940. His parents were Edwin and Winifred Rountree Ellis. His fashion career started after graduating his master’s degree in retailing in New York University in the 60’s. He went back to Virginia to start department store retailing as a buyer and merchandiser which helped him gain vast knowledge in retail and fashion business. Perry Ellis was even a co-founder of a retails store named A Sunny Day during those times. After a while he joined John Meyer, a sportswear company located in New York. By mid-70’s, The Vera Companies, Perry Ellis employer wanted him to design a collection for their already established polyester double-knit pantsuits line. Around 1976, Perry Ellis introduced his first ever Women’s Sportswear collection which he called “Portfolio“. Albeit his lack of sketching skills, Perry Ellis was knowledgeable in the intricacies of fashion and what Women want in thing things they wear. Perry Ellis signature style of clean-cut and casual earned him a lot of praises from critics and consumers alike.

By 1978, he and The Vera Companies founded the Perry Ellis International which leads to his Seventh Avenue showroom. Success kept pouring in which eventually landed in introducing the Perry Ellis Menswear Collection, known and admired by consumers for it’s modern classic and non-traditional styles. The collection expanded into shoes, perfumes, accessories and even furs. It was in the 80’s that the Perry Ellis trademark evolved in other labels namely Perry Ellis Collection and Perry Ellis Portfolio. It was in 1984 that Perry Ellis collaborated with Levis Strauss. Between the year of 1979 and 1984, Perry Ellis received 8 Coty Awards.

It was also around the 80’s when Perry Ellis’ health was suffering. An aide had to help him accept his award in January 1986 from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). An award he also received in 1983 and served as President. May 8th of 1986 was his last runway show by making a brief appearance supported by 2 people which prevented him from doing his signature skip at the end of the runway. Perry Ellis was rushed to the hospital after that night where he fell into a coma. He died 2 weeks later.

An award called Perry Ellis Awards was created in 1986 which is now called Swarovski Emerging Talent Award. It honors emerging talented Men and Women fashion designers. Some of the award recipients include Zac Posen, Derek Lam and Trovata, just to name a few.

The white bronze plaque you see in the picture is embedded on the sidewalk of New York’s Seventh Fashion Avenue located between 41st Street to 35th Street to honor Perry Ellis contribution in the fashion industry.

Shop at Perry Ellis online store and check the newly built Perry Ellis blog.

(Image : Newscom, Wikipedia)