Born in 1940, Perry Ellis enjoyed a comfortable middle-class lifestyle with his parents courtesy of his father's Coal & Oil company, and living comfortably afforded him the luxury of the best education. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School, Perry attended college at William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, studying business administration and graduating in 1961. He furthered his education shortly thereafter and attended New York University to receive his master's in retailing.

With extensive knowledge of business and retailing, it did not take Ellis long to find a job as a fashion buyer and merchandiser for Miller & Rhoads. He knew what was fashionable and he knew how to sell it. From there, he teamed up with a business partner and opened A Sunny Day, a retail shop in Richmond. While working for John Meyer, a sportswear company out of New York, Ellis attracted the attention of The Vera Companies and was commissioned to design an exclusive collection for them, and in 1976, Ellis introduced Portfolio, a line of women's sportswear.

Women who wore Ellis's clothing praised him for the clothing's clean lines, sophisticated air, and casual feel. Unlike many designers, he understood that high fashion had a place in comfortable clothing, making his eye for combining the two very valuable. In 1978, Ellis opened a showroom on Seventh Avenue in New York City, and by the 1980s, he had established a name for himself as a revolutionary designer and the founder of his very own fashion house, Perry Ellis International.

Ellis did not stop at women's sportswear. Shortly after establishing Perry Ellis International, he began adding new items to his lines including fragrances, shoes, accessories, and even furs. During the 80s, he expanded his fashion house further to include different labels targeting different demographics. Items of clothing from the Perry Ellis Portfolio line, for instance, was priced lower than items in the Perry Ellis Collection. His modern designs paired with classic silhouettes earned him multiple Coty awards in the early 80s, making his name a household one.

Ellis passed away in 1986, but he left behind a legacy. He appreciated casual, functional clothing and incorporated the needs of his consumers into every aspect of his lines. Although he could not sketch, Ellis had a knack for conveying exactly what he wanted, and he would accept no less than perfection. His contribution to 1980s fashion begins and ends with simplicity, a timeless ideal that has lasted through the decades.