Born in 1948 to a modest family in Spartanburg, S.C., Kitty Black Perkins grew up in a household where dolls were a luxury her parents could not afford. From a young age, she learned the art of sewing from her mother and grandmother, which sparked her creativity in designing her own outfits. After completing high school, Perkins moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for fashion design at Los Angeles Trade Tech College.

She earned her Associate’s degree in 1971 and began her career working for a couture designer.…