Perry Ellis (brand) facts for kids
Perry Ellis is a well-known American fashion brand. It creates stylish clothing for people of all ages. The company was started by a famous American designer named Perry Ellis. Today, it is owned by a larger company called Perry Ellis International.
In 2003, Perry Ellis joined forces with Salant Corporation. Salant used to make clothes for the Perry Ellis brand. This merger brought together many different clothing brands under one big company.
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The Story of Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis started his own fashion company, Perry Ellis International, in 1978. He opened his first showroom in New York City on a famous street called Seventh Avenue. As the boss and main designer, he launched the Perry Ellis Menswear Collection.
Perry Ellis was a very talented designer. He won many important awards for his fashion work. Between 1979 and 1984, he won eight Coty Awards. He also received an award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1983. He even served as the president of the CFDA in 1984.
His friend and colleague, Richard Haines, once said that Perry Ellis's style was "classic with a twist." Perry Ellis himself said he wanted to design clothes that were "more obtainable, more relaxed, but ultimately more stylish and witty." He wanted his clothes to be easy to wear but still look great and be fun.
After Perry Ellis passed away in 1986, his friend Robert L. McDonald took over the company. McDonald worked hard to keep the fashion house going strong. A famous designer named Marc Jacobs then joined Perry Ellis. Marc Jacobs designed for the company from 1988 to 1993. He later became a very famous designer for Louis Vuitton in Paris.
Over the years, the Perry Ellis company changed hands a few times. In 1999, a company called Supreme Inc. bought Perry Ellis. Supreme Inc. then changed its name to Perry Ellis International. Later, in 2003, Perry Ellis International bought Salant, the company that used to make Perry Ellis clothes. Since then, Perry Ellis International has bought many other clothing companies, like Original Penguin and the golf brand Ping Collection.
Clothing Brands by Perry Ellis
In 2002, before it joined with Perry Ellis, Salant bought a clothing company called Axis Clothing Corp. Axis LA made men's sweaters, pants, jeans, and shirts. You could find their clothes in many department stores across the U.S. This added more variety to the types of clothes offered by the larger company.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Perry Ellis and his brand have received many honors:
- During his career, Perry Ellis won eight Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards. These awards were given by a well-known cosmetics and perfume company.
- He also received the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Award in 1981. This is a very important award in the fashion world.
- In 1986, a special award was created in his honor. It was called the Perry Ellis Award. Today, it is known as the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award. This award celebrates new and promising fashion designers. The first person to win it was David Cameron in 1986. Some recent winners include Zac Posen in 2004 and Derek Lam in 2005.
- Also in 1986, a Special Tribute was given to Perry Ellis at the CFDA awards in New York.
- In 2002, Perry Ellis was honored with a special bronze plaque. It is placed on the sidewalk of New York's Seventh "Fashion" Avenue, where his showroom once stood.
Perry Ellis on the Red Carpet
The Perry Ellis brand has become popular in Hollywood and at celebrity events. The brand often teams up with Vanity Fair magazine to host parties for TV shows nominated for awards.
Perry Ellis and Vanity Fair have celebrated many famous TV series. They held parties for shows like Heroes in 2007, 30 Rock in 2008, and The Office in 2010. These parties took place at the famous Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. In 2011, they also celebrated Parks and Recreation in West Hollywood.
Many celebrities enjoy wearing Perry Ellis clothes. For example, Joe Manganiello from the TV show True Blood is a fan. He once told GQ magazine that he always wanted to "look the part" if he became famous.
Other well-known personalities have also worn Perry Ellis outfits to events. Chris Colfer from Glee wore Perry Ellis to an awards show in 2010. NFL football star Hank Baskett has also worn the brand to several events. You might also see Perry Ellis clothes on TV personalities like E! Entertainment's Jason Kennedy.
See also
- Perry Ellis
- Perry Ellis International
- Fashion in the United States
Sources
- Announcement of Perry Ellis' death in the New York Times – May 31, 1986
- 2001 W magazine article on Tyler Alexandra Gallagher Ellis, Perry Ellis' own daughter
- Perry Ellis Fashion shoot at his high school, Woodrow Wilson
