For most high school kids, a part-time job is little more than a way to make some walking-around money. Not for Oscar Feldenkreis, though. By the time Oscar started working at Supreme International – the apparel company owned by his father, George Feldenkreis – in 1980, he had already accumulated some retail experience from working in various retail stores, gaining an understanding of how retail operations worked on the front lines.
“I contributed in any way I could, from stocking inventory to being very inquisitive and especially helping customers,” he said. “That was the beginning of my passion for sales. I joined my father’s company and had a vision for creating fashion brands. Since then, I've always enjoyed the design and creative aspect of the business.”
As CEO and President of Perry Ellis International, Oscar leads a global fashion house representing a diverse portfolio of lifestyle brands, including Perry Ellis, Perry Ellis America, An Original Penguin by Munsingwear, Callaway, PGA Tour, Ben Hogan, Cubavera, Savane, Rafaella, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Farah, and Nike Swim.
He has been immersed in all aspects of the organization and takes great pride in the company’s culture, as well as providing the organization’s strategic direction. Oscar’s entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership, and approach to the future continue to transform its legacy, which has lasted over 50 years.
“It has been a generational business,” he said. “As a family-owned company you immerse yourself in every aspect. My responsibilities included working in the sample room to our distribution centers. I also traveled to Asia on sourcing and design trips at a very early age, which allowed me to gain the initial understanding of the manufacturing segment.”
In recent years, retail has experienced a massive transition, shifting from brick-and-mortar retail locations to an online marketplace, forcing many businesses to adapt or perish. For Oscar, success in this arena is a result of being flexible, smart, and decisive.
“Taking a strategic and holistic planning approach to the brand business is key,” he said. “Utilizing technology coupled with sales data, and offering the right merchandise mix and inventory, aides in providing the best ecommerce consumer experience. Ultimately, the ability to be nimble and infuse the right digital strategy, including social media and various digital marketing platforms, to accommodate all retail channels of distribution is essential especially in this ever-changing retail environment.”
In addition to his role as CEO of Perry Ellis international and all its brands, Oscar is devoted to a range of civic and philanthropic commitments. He is a member of the YPO/WPO and belongs to the United Way of Miami-Dade’s Tocqueville Society. He supports the Greater Miami Chapter of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, the Kosher Food Bank, and sits on the Miami Dade College advisory board for the Miami Fashion Institute.
“My father instilled the importance of giving back early,” he added. “As Jewish-Cuban immigrants, we know firsthand the struggles and opportunities we have experienced. There’s nothing more important and gratifying than to give rather than receive. I’m proud to be able to donate to many charitable organizations and share this philosophy with my children and associates alike.”
Oscar has been married to his wife Ellen for 39 years and lives in Miami Beach. They have three beautiful daughters – Jennifer Hardoon, Erica Lichy, and Stephanie Tauber – and are adoring grandparents to granddaughters, Hailey, Elizabeth, Miriam, Leya, and Malka, and grandsons, Henry, Moshe, and Meir.
