Perry Edwin Ellis was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on March 3, 1940, as the only child of Edwin and Winifred Rountree Ellis. His father owned a Coal & Oil company which enabled the family to live a comfortable middle-class life. Perry graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1957.
In 1980 he formed his own company. His contemporary, classic menswear designs were already widely acclaimed in the USA, and he swiftly gained a reputation for crisply stylish women's coats, trouser and knitwear. Ellis's designs for women were spirited and graceful and he is considered the ideal American sportswear designer.
In the year 2000/2002, the city of New York decided to honour American fashion designers by placing bronze plaques along the pavement of 7th Avenue, the great street of fashion in New York. This has been called the "FASHION WALK OF FAME." Perry Ellis was one of those honoured with a plaque.
He also worked with Patrick Kelly in Paris in the 1980's. Robinson is well-known for his own signature sportswear collection launched in 1997. Now he will bring all his experience to bear, on making a success of Perry Ellis Sportswear.
In April 2003, the Public Clothing Company, licensee of Perry Ellis Womenswear, announced that Patrick Robinson has been appointed Creative Director for Perry Ellis Womens Sportswear. Robinson, shown here on the right, was born in 1967 and studied at Parsons Fashion School in New York. He was earlier with Giorgio Armani Le Collezioni and Anne Klein.
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