Perry Ellis was a popular fashion designer in the 1970s and 1980s, before tragically passing away in 1986. Born and educated in Virginia, Ellis initially entered the fashion world through retail.

He earned a master's degree in retailing from New York University and returned to Virginia to work as a buyer and merchandiser, eventually establishing his own store. A move back to New York to work at a sportswear company eventually led to the opportunity to design a women's clothing collection.

Although Ellis could not draw, his experience with clothing and the fashion world enabled him to create one of the most successful sportswear lines of the 1970s, culminating in the introduction of his own brand in 1978.

The Perry Ellis line has been expanded over time to include menswear, accessories, shoes and perfume. The first Perry Ellis fragrances, Perry Ellis for Women and Perry Ellis for Men, debuted in 1985.