Napoleon Perdis
Encyclopedia
Napoleon Perdis is an Australia
n makeup artist and businessman.
Napoleon launched a small makeup studio in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt
in 1992. He created a line of cosmetic products which he sold through his own concept store in the Sydney
suburb of Paddington
in 1995 and later through major department stores. By 2011, the brand operated 65 concept stores across Australia
and New Zealand
and sold its cosmetics from 4,500 locations. His business expanded to the United States
with a number of concept stores and products are also stocked by Ulta
beauty product stores and independent retailers throughout the country.
Napoleon set up The Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy in 1993 which provides makeup education by professional trainers for people who want to pursue a career in makeup. Napoleon's business partners are his younger brother Emanuel Perdis and his wife Soula-Marie, with both of whom he co-founded his cosmetics empire from the very outset.
immigrants, who settled in Sydney's western suburbs
originally from the island of Kythera, and his father from Tripoli-Argos, Greece. They were also hard-working business people who once owned a popular cafe on the corner of Elizabeth Street
and Liverpool Street
, in the Sydney CBD. Napoleon's family lived in the Sydney suburbs of Sutherland
, Strathfield
and Parramatta
. He went to school at Arthur Phillip High School
and later at the Redeemer Baptist School
. He completed a Bachelor of Arts
at Macquarie University
, where he met his wife Soula-Marie. They married in 1991 and have four daughters, which include triplets. He worked as a barrister
's assistant and his wife was completing her actuary studies. He worked as a make-up artist for brides on weekends and in 1992 opened his own make-up studio in a small shop in Ultimo, New South Wales
. In 1993, he won a make-up competition at a beauty expo with a look that was inspired by Cher
. He won a trip to Los Angeles, where he met Cher's make-up artist and agreed to become the Australian distributor for his 'Taut' make-up products. Napoleon sold the make-up to brides and through his Ultimo studio and hair salons. He sold the business when he launched his own make-up products under the successive names, The Look, then The Look by Napoleon, followed with Napoleon and finally to its current Napoleon Perdis name from 1994.
. Australia's own Melissa George
campaigned as the face of the Napoleon DeVine Goddess line of cosmetics in 2007.
In 2008, he starred in his own reality television show Get Your Face On, following the make up guru as he looks for a protege to help the brand expand in the American market. He also successfully launched an exclusive 85-piece diffusion make up line through American Target called, NP Set, in the same month Get Your Face On went to air on cable's TLC channel.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n makeup artist and businessman.
Napoleon launched a small makeup studio in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt
Leichhardt, New South Wales
Leichhardt is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Leichhardt is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt...
in 1992. He created a line of cosmetic products which he sold through his own concept store in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Paddington
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
in 1995 and later through major department stores. By 2011, the brand operated 65 concept stores across Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and sold its cosmetics from 4,500 locations. His business expanded to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a number of concept stores and products are also stocked by Ulta
Ulta
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc is a chain of beauty superstores in the United States. Each store is outfitted with a full-service salon as well. Ulta carries a variety of cosmetics and skincare brands, men's and women's fragrances, and professionally licensed haircare products...
beauty product stores and independent retailers throughout the country.
Napoleon set up The Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy in 1993 which provides makeup education by professional trainers for people who want to pursue a career in makeup. Napoleon's business partners are his younger brother Emanuel Perdis and his wife Soula-Marie, with both of whom he co-founded his cosmetics empire from the very outset.
Biography
Napoleon's parents were GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
immigrants, who settled in Sydney's western suburbs
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
originally from the island of Kythera, and his father from Tripoli-Argos, Greece. They were also hard-working business people who once owned a popular cafe on the corner of Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Elizabeth Street is a street in Sydney, Australia.-Description and history:Elizabeth Street runs south from Hunter Street, past Hyde Park and David Jones, Central station and through the inner city suburbs of Surry Hills, Redfern, Waterloo and Zetland...
and Liverpool Street
Liverpool Street, Sydney
Liverpool Street is an important east-west thoroughfare of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool Street is in the southern portion of the Sydney central business district and forms the southern boundary of Hyde Park...
, in the Sydney CBD. Napoleon's family lived in the Sydney suburbs of Sutherland
Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
, Strathfield
Strathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
and Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
. He went to school at Arthur Phillip High School
Arthur Phillip High School
Arthur Phillip High School is a coeducational public high school in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established in 1960 in its own right, in buildings which had been used continuously as a school since 1875, and is named for Arthur Phillip, the first governor of the state of...
and later at the Redeemer Baptist School
Redeemer Baptist School
Redeemer Baptist School, commonly known as Redeemer, is a private coeducational school in North Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1981 to serve the purpose of an educational facility for the church members; however, it later expanded to its Parramatta campus to educate both local and...
. He completed a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, where he met his wife Soula-Marie. They married in 1991 and have four daughters, which include triplets. He worked as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
's assistant and his wife was completing her actuary studies. He worked as a make-up artist for brides on weekends and in 1992 opened his own make-up studio in a small shop in Ultimo, New South Wales
Ultimo, New South Wales
Ultimo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ultimo is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
. In 1993, he won a make-up competition at a beauty expo with a look that was inspired by Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
. He won a trip to Los Angeles, where he met Cher's make-up artist and agreed to become the Australian distributor for his 'Taut' make-up products. Napoleon sold the make-up to brides and through his Ultimo studio and hair salons. He sold the business when he launched his own make-up products under the successive names, The Look, then The Look by Napoleon, followed with Napoleon and finally to its current Napoleon Perdis name from 1994.
Popular culture
In 2007, Napoleon Perdis appeared as a special guest on a few episodes of the reality television show, Australia's Next Top ModelAustralia's Next Top Model, Cycle 3
Cycle three of Australia's Next Top Model premiered on 27 March 2007 and concluded on 5 June 2007. As with the first two cycles, the third season was broadcast exclusively on the Foxtel network FOX8 in Australia...
. Australia's own Melissa George
Melissa George
Melissa Suzanne George is an Australian film and television actress who has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Melissa is perhaps best known for her role as Angel Parrish on the Australian soap opera Home and Away...
campaigned as the face of the Napoleon DeVine Goddess line of cosmetics in 2007.
In 2008, he starred in his own reality television show Get Your Face On, following the make up guru as he looks for a protege to help the brand expand in the American market. He also successfully launched an exclusive 85-piece diffusion make up line through American Target called, NP Set, in the same month Get Your Face On went to air on cable's TLC channel.