Apparel donation will help women in need reentering the workforce

NEW YORK, May 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq:PERY)—Rafaella® today launched a charitable partnership with Bottomless Closet, an organization that provides disadvantaged New York City women with the tools they need to reenter the workforce, as well as provides ongoing support and education to help them succeed in their professional lives.

“This is a great opportunity for the Rafaella brand to provide apparel to a very worthy cause, which complements their message of empowerment and confidence,” stated Oscar Feldenkreis, Perry Ellis International CEO and President. This collaboration reinforces the brand’s commitment to diversity and confidence building. Rafaella will help women in need by donating work appropriate attire throughout the year in order to help women secure professional opportunities.

“Thanks to the generosity of brands like Rafaella, we can dress the women we serve for the most critically important days of their lives,” said Bottomless Closet Executive Director Melissa Norden. “The right interview outfit is hugely important – not just for making a good first impression, but for instilling self-assurance and a sense of capability in these women when they need it most. The pieces that we’ve received as a part of this donation will no doubt help them start the next chapter.”

Rafaella offers a full range of lifestyle apparel including figure-flattering designs, with easy care and innovative fabrics available in sizes from 4 to 22. “Rafaella embraces working women in every shape, style, and life to look professional while feeling their best. Our partnership with Bottomless Closet reinforces the Rafaella mission as an inclusive brand and we’re happy to support women getting back into the workforce after facing personal struggles,” stated Denise Miller, President of Rafaella.

For more information about Bottomless Closet, please visit www.bottomlessclosetnyc.org. For more information about Perry Ellis International, Inc. and the company’s entire portfolio of brands, please visit www.pery.com.

About Perry Ellis International:

Perry Ellis International, Inc. is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of a broad line of high quality men's and women's apparel, accessories and fragrances. The Company's collection of dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress pants, casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear, dresses and men's and women's swimwear is available through all major levels of retail distribution. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a portfolio of nationally and internationally recognized brands, including: Perry Ellis®, An Original Penguin® by Munsingwear®, Laundry by Shelli Segal®, Rafaella®, Cubavera®, Ben Hogan®, Savane®, Grand Slam®, John Henry®, Manhattan®, Axist®, Jantzen® and Farah®. The Company enhances its roster of brands by licensing trademarks from third parties, including: Nike® and Jag® for swimwear, and Callaway®, PGA TOUR®, and Jack Nicklaus® for golf apparel and Guy Harvey® for performance fishing and resort wear. Additional information on the Company is available at www.pery.com.

About Rafaella®
Rafaella is a one-of-a-kind fit for everybody. Affordable, ultra-flattering clothing for every woman in sizes 4-22. Available at better department stores and online across the U.S. Rafaella understands there is a direct correlation between feeling beautiful and being confident. Each collection strikes the right balance between fashion and ease of wear, enabling women to look great without compromising comfort. For more information, please visit Rafaella Sportswear® and follow Rafaella on Facebook and Instagram

About Bottomless Closet
Founded in 1999, Bottomless Closet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to be the connection that inspires and guides disadvantaged New York City women to enter the workforce and achieve success through a host of services and programming, including the selection of interview attire, one-to-one resume review, interview coaching and a broad workshop curriculum that promotes professional development, financial management and personal enrichment. More than 30,000 women have been served by the organization since its inception in 1999. For more information, please visit www.bottomlessclosetnyc.org, and be sure to follow Bottomless Closet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Jennifer D'Aponte
Senior Director of Marketing
212-403-0322
jennifer.daponte@pery.com