Amber Perley is one of 13 successful designers on NBC's reality competition series "Fashion Star."

Perley, an Austin-based women's wear fashion designer was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She began constructing and sketching garments as early as five years old and got her first sewing machine for Christmas when she was eight years old. At that time, she began making and selling items to friends and family. At the age of 10, she started collecting fashion magazines and predicting trends.

Perley is the owner and designer of Pearl Southern Couture. She launched her southern-inspired clothing line in May 2008. While living in Louisiana and studying apparel design at Louisiana State University (LSU), she was inspired by the rich culture, unique cities and lifestyle of the people in the southern United States. After graduation, she gained valuable experience while working in the buying department at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and then interning for designer Charlotte Ronson in New York City. It wasn't until she had worked in the fashion industry for several years that she decided to start her own company in 2008. Her vision was to offer a clothing line that reflects the southern lifestyle, giving off a southern vibe with a modern and fresh look. The line consists of classic dresses, separates and even men's ties - pieces that range from casual to eveningwear, all produced in the USA. The entire company has grown organically with no loans or help from investors. In addition to running the company, Perley is the photographer for her line, having her sister and friends model in southern locations that inspired each collection. Perley's experience is invaluable from years of learning and handling the cycle of design, sales, production, delivery and everything that comes in between.

Currently, Pearl Southern Couture is carried in over 50 boutiques and stores nationwide, predominately in the Southeast, including Hemline, Beehive, The Shirt Shop, Dirty Landry, Hot to Trot, Crush, The Tulip Tree, Caroline's, Worlds Apart, Aria and online at pearlsoutherncouture.com.

When Perley is not running Pearl Southern Couture, she is actively involved in the fashion community, donating custom Pearl pieces to various charities and fundraisers and participating in fashion weeks across the Southeast.