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Perry Ellis is an American fashion designer who was famous in the mid-seventies of the last century. He was also the founder of the first sportswear fashion house. Perry Ellis was born on the 3rd of March 1940 in the Portsmouth. His family belonged to the middle class as his father worked for Coal & Oil company recieving good income.
Perry graduated from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Portsmouth in 1957 and received his degree in management at the College of College of William and Mary. After college Perry was recruited to the United States Army. In 1963 he graduated from the New York University with a master's degree in retail sales. In the mid-seventies, the first collection of Perry sportswear clothing appeared.
As soon as Ellis opened his own showroom on 7th Avenue, the famous fashion street in New York, and became its chief designer and director; Perry Ellis clothing appeared as one of the best American fashionable sportswear of all ages. It was followed by the new Perry Ellis clothing collection for men which became extremely successful. The fashion work continued with men's shoes, accessories, fur and perfume. In 1982 the company staff counted 75 employees, combining the efforts with a fashion company "Levi Strauss", Perry founded "Perry Ellis America", the company that reached 250 million in sales in a few years.
Perry Ellis died at the age of forty-six at the height of his fame, when his popularity peaked.
The designer's efforts were deservedly rewarded. Perry Ellis clothing was repeatedly named one of the best in the world of fashion, collecting multiple prestigious awards and prizes. | 
