From refugee to shoe empire
Sebastiano Perillo, who has died aged 83, was a former refugee who founded one of New Zealand’s most well-known shoe brands. Perillo, who started the popular women’s footwear brand Andrea Biani, worked in the industry for nearly seven decades.
‘‘He didn’t really have interests. His interests were shoes, shoes, shoes really,’’ son David Perillo said.
Perillo, also known as John, created his first pair of shoes in a shed at the back of his family’s home in New Lynn, Auckland, during the 1960s. He took a few samples to a retailer in Queen St, which ordered 10 pairs. They sold out on the day of delivery.
Along with his brothers, Perillo built up a reputation in the industry for making a quality version of the Beatle boot design.
As the style waned in popularity, the brothers ventured into women’s styles.
Over the past few decades, Andrea Biani shoes have featured in several Stuff fashion spreads.
The brand is also a favourite of Julia Sloane, who starred in the reality TV show Real Housewives of Auckland.
David Perillo said his father was always at the cutting edge of the latest trends.
‘‘He loved going to Sydney, Melbourne, Paris, Milan, wherever, looking in the window and looking for the next winners.
‘‘He and his brothers worked hard. For them it was the land of opportunity here.’’
The family had fled their hometown of Fiume, then in Italy, after World War II. The city, now called Rijeka, was captured by Yugoslav forces and became part of what is now independent Croatia. Most of the Italian population fled or were removed.
The family stayed in multiple refugee camps before being granted refugee status by the New Zealand government.
In 1951, Perillo arrived – along with his parents, three brothers and four sisters – ‘‘with absolutely nothing’’, his son said.
Sebastiano’s father was ill and died a short time later. Sebastiano worked odd jobs before starting his shoe-making business.
David Perillo said his father worked hard to provide his children – himself and older sisters Venetia and Paula – with a comfortable life.
He built the family a ‘‘beautiful’’ home in Remuera, where they would gather to eat good food and drink Italian wine.
‘‘We travelled extensively. He loved showing us the world.’’
Perillo was 80 when he retired. His death had been somewhat of a shock because he had been in reasonably good health until a couple of months ago, his son said.
He died in hospital after a short illness. He is survived by wife Anne, his three children, many grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
‘‘He’s going to be missed. He was kind of the last patriarch of the family,’’ David Perillo said.