George Feldenkreis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Perry Ellis International , a Miami based apparel manufacturer and distributor, will be the speaker at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. Feldenkreis will speak on “Retail’s Changing Landscape”. His presentation will be held in the Grand Room of the Huizenga Sales Institute on the third floor of the Carl DeSantis Building. The lecture is free and open to the NSU community and the public. To rsvp email cz100@nova.edu .
Born in Cuba to Russian Jewish immigrants, Feldenkreis left Cuba in 1961 and arrived in Miami with his wife, his infant son and $700 in his pocket. Being an entrepreneur, he also brought his Japanese and European contacts in the manufacturing industries to America and started an import business. He found his niche selling Japanese automobile and motorcycle parts. In 1967, Feldenkreis and his brother established Supreme International and began importing children’s school uniforms from Japan to Puerto Rico. Later, they focused on Guayaberas – tropical shirts symbolic of the Latin culture and became known as the “Guayabera Kings.”
In 1993, Supreme International went public and embarked on acquisition strategies. In 1999, they purchased the rights to the Perry Ellis trademark. The company changed its name to Perry Ellis International to better reflect brand offerings. Today, the company is one of the biggest men’s sportswear companies in the world with more than 1400 associates and multiple offices on both coasts and sourcing operations all over the world.
Feldenkreis has always been devoted to civic and charitable activities and has been recognized by numerous organizations. Most recently, the National Conference for Community and Justice honored him with the “Silver Medallion for Service of Humanity Award,” and the Florida Council on Economic Exchange inducted him into the South Florida Business Hall of Fame.