Nell Donnelly Reed, born Ellen Quinlan (1889-1991), was born and raised in Parsons, Kansas. The twelfth child of Irish immigrants, she worked as a stenographer right after graduating from Parsons High School. At the age of 17, Nell met and married Paul Donnelly, the Credit Manager of the Barton Shoe Co. He supported her financial needs so she could study at Lindenwood College, Missouri.

Nell sewed her first dress in 1916 and three years later in 1919, she and Paul established the Donnelly Garment Company. The company focused on ready-to-wear clothing, prototyping every item in all sizes to ensure correct fit. In 1925, Nell Donnelly patented the Handy-Dandy Apron, an apron designed for its function and easy wearability.

When Nell made her first house dress in 1916, most American clothing was made from plant-based fabrics like cotton and silk. But that was all about to change. Viscose rayon, a synthetic, silky fabric, was patented and produced in England starting in 1893 for light bulb filaments. In 1928, the American Enka Company began making rayon in North Carolina. Soon after, rayon started to be used for clothing in the 1930s. Enka Rayon became popular with designers like Nell due to its high quality.

Nell always tried to strike a balance between quality and affordability with her garments. Synthetic fabrics helped her do this, especially when materials like silk became costly and scarce during wartimes.  The Donnelly Garment Company continued to grow, and her dresses were featured in magazines such as Vogue.

During World War II, Nelly Don was the highest producer of undergarments for military uniforms. Her company was also the leading producer in dresses across the globe. She was known for her unique patterns and colors, each pattern being a Nelly Don original.

Nell sold her company in 1956 after her 40-year career.