Everything I create mixes the sophistication I grew up with.

Growing up in Los Angeles, my life consisted of two worlds. One was full of sports, the beach and friends; the other, waiting around for my father Tommy Perse at his high fashion boutique, Maxfield. I'd spend hours playing with the sales people and customers, and almost by accident, wound up with an incredible education in the most inventive designs and most famous designer in the world.

My thing was sports and everything that went with it. I was obsessed with baseball caps, but could never find a well-made hat with good shape, fabric and coloring. The Summer of 1991 I spent making my kind of hat for Maxfield. It was not long before the customers became clients. Movie directors wanted them for the cast and crew gifts, record labels wanted them for tours - a business was born.

I moved onto t-shirts - first making them for other people and then discovered another unfilled niche - the retail world. The business has grown to include everything from jackets, sweaters, pants and dresses. Everything I create mixes the sophistication I grew up with.