Ande Whall Denim

[denimotaku]

heard the news a few hours ago. hope you're well and safe Ande. i also hope all your machines are fine as well.

[dubgiant90]

Ande hope you're okay.

[tg76]

happily woke up to see ande has posted an IM OK on face book

[tvshooter]

that's good. is he or you close to that part of the country? stay safe.

[theotherchrislewis]

Yeah, Ande is from Christchurch and his workshop is right in the center of the disaster zone (tg76 is in the north of the North Island so I don't think she have been 'directly affected'). Ande did post this message in the Contest Thread - thought I'd share it over here:

  andewhall said:

Hi guys. Thanks so much for the e-mails of concern, it's very kind of you guys. A heavy heart this morning, yesterdays Earthquake was devastating, lives lost and people still trapped in rubble in the CBD. I was very lucky as the workshop has been badly damaged as it's in the center of the CBD. I was at work in the morning, then went to take the car to the garage for repairs, and just about to set off from my home gaff just outside the CBD when it struck. The house didn't hold up so well, half the red brick fire wall came down, bricks through the windows...I was pinned in the small kitchen fearing the stairs were to collapse. Had to evac as the house is unlivable.

I have had reports the workshop is badly damaged and won't be able to get in to assess the damage as the Army and Police has shut down the CBD. They are still pulling out survivors thank god. I hope I can salvage the selvedge denim! And machines, patterns etc. The contest denim came in last week, was just taking photos to show you guys....hope it's ok!? I have closed the store and the contest will have to be postponed until further notice, really sorry guys.

Thanks guys. Bests Ande

here is a link to some (amazing yet sad) photos of the aftermath, can't believe how bad Christchurch looks!!! As I was just down there in December and at that time thought the city looked pretty bad from the September shake but this is a whole new level!

http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2011/02/dozens-trapped-by-new-zealand.html

[madners]

It's so great to hear Ande's still ok. I was extremely lucky in that I got the last batch off Ande before the earthquake hit. I know that kiwis are a strong bunch and will bounce back once again. My thoughts and prayers go to those in Christchurch.

[bellio]

Glad to hear that Ande is fine.

Just got this a few days ago.

Grifter Dlx.

[bobbymcshearer]

Saving up for my first Ande Whalls very soon.

Fitting looks great bellio

[arya]

that is too tight on the top, isnt it?

[beatle]

Really glad to hear that Ande is okay, but still - really sorry to hear about the damage..best wishes and strength your way, you will be able to rebuild...

[terencewwx]

Hi guys not sure if i can type this here, anyone of you interested in a raker 27/32? it's totally brand new and i am unable to do a size exchange as i am sure you guys are aware of the situation ande is in right now.

my thread is here do check it out - http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showthread.php?t=264257. 225USD inclusive of worldwide shipping.

[andewhall]

Hi Guys. Thanks again for the e-mails. I still haven't had any concrete news about the workshop. The city is still in lock down. I have seen some helicopter pictures on tv, it doesn't look good at all. The side wall has come away and the back half of the roof has collapsed in. 1/3 of all buildings in the CBD will be facing the wrecking ball. Will try and get pictures and updates. Thanks again guys, talk soon.

Bests Ande

[stresMaldo]

Wow, I hope some of your machines, product, etc were able to survive.

Obviously the most important thing is that you're safe.

Goodluck, Ande.

[poly800rock]

keep us posted sir!

[seal club sandwich]

first - glad to hear ande is okay. as a consumate gentleman (at least by email), professional businessman, and highest calibre aritsan, i hope that he is back on his feet with everything sorted in the near term.

to keep things going, here are some of my ande's post wash fit pics...detailed pics to follow. got mellow fades, light whiskers...not much progress for two solid months (plus some time before)...but thought it was time for an updated fit: got a bit of shrink, but they were starting to bag out...so pretty good.

[andewhall]

Hey guys, how are you all. Thanks again for all the e-mails, it's real nice in this crazy time.

I still haven't had any concrete news on the state of the workshop. Have seen it on TV a couple of times, doesn't look good. It's an old red brick building, three stories high, I am on the thrid floor which is a loft. It seems as though the back half of the roof has collapsed in. They have started pulling down buildings that are unsafe, so I hope it has enough structural integrity to be fixed or hold thge wrecking ball at bay for the time being.

Terrible time for our small city. Death toll is 161 and continues to rise. It's just a mess. The roads are all buggered, some still don't have power and water etc. 1/3 of the city building have to be demolished and thousands of people have lost there homes.

Just so thankfull that all family and friends are safe. Staying at my brothers house at the moment, the home pad in the city is definitely wrecked. That side of town wasn't as bad so we managed to get all out stuff out.

Here are some photos of the mess.

This looking over the city from the Port Hills

This is the street the Workshop is on. Second building on the left, top corner. I don't think those are my windows hanging out.

In the centre is the cafe I get morning coffee. Hope those girls are alright.

Workshop street again, from the other direction.

[andewhall]

These are places around the corner, some friends have shops around this area.

Lots of good bars down here, the workshop is down the end.

Lived in this building years ago.

[andewhall]

The worst buildings, terrible loss of life. My girlfriends company was going to be moving into this one in two months time.

[grooveholmes]

Crazy. Thanks for the update. Really terrible news about the city. Is the shop/building insured? I know insurance companies can find all kinds of ways to avoid paying up... Will you and the other tenants Be able to recoup losses?

[Fincarelli]

Ande: thank you for your post and pictures once again. Please accept my deepest sympathies for you and your neighbors. Prior to this disaster, I looked at your photos and really romanticized the idea of your workshop there, in a friendly little city, in a beautiful far away land. It seemed like the perfect place. It is this notion that really punctuates the tragedy depicted in your photos now, and I doubt I am alone among your fans to have reacted horribly and with some surprising emotion to them. I really hope things get better for you all soon. I know that it is little consolation at this time, but I am certain that you will have a lot of pent up demand when you are able to get back to work. Your denims are distinguished and special, even here among the top tier of such products, and I know I can safely speak for all when I say that we look forward to doing business with you again when the time is right.

[poly800rock]

ande, i am so happy you are ok. let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

[robotbox]

Damn. I really don't know what to say. We are all glad you are ok, Ande. I can't begin to imagine how rough it is to see the city you love, and the business you've put so much effort into, reduced to rubble.

Fincarelli really nailed what I'm sure a lot of us are have been thinking. Despite only conversing with you briefly via email, your jeans have so much life and love in them, that I feel as if I know you much better. I know that sounds horribly cheesy, but its true. I greatly enjoyed seeing all the pics from when you first moved in to the workshop. You seem to live an ideal life in NZ, and we are happy to be a teeny-tiny piece of that. I sincerely hope that you, and your friends, family, and fellow residents can return to that life soon.

Here's some pics of my wonderful Ande Whall's to hopefully lighten the mood a bit:

Selvage Kitty

Fly fades

My first home repair, patch on the knee

[Hank Hill]

Many have put it so much more eloquently than me, but my prayers are going out for you, your loved ones, and your city. Im hoping to see you and your denim up and running soon enough, but until then, you have our support.

In other news however, I officially can no longer wear my Rakers.

Thankfully, its simply because of working out, and my legs are getting a tad tight for this fit. Much like all things in life, the cycle continues, new comes from old, life from death, etc etc. So, I am selling my 50-60 day worn pair of sz 30x32 Rakers to fund some new Ande Whall denim. I wont clog the thread, but if youre interested, details and such here: http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showthread.php?t=265842

[poly800rock]

i wore my grifters deep sea fishing the other day, they're soaked in fish guts now.

[Fincarelli]

^just f'breeze and freeze, they be a'ight

[andewhall]

Hi guys how are you. I am just typing up an update on the workshop, will post soon.

Man these Quakes are crazy, poor Japan. I was at the pub last night for the first time, trying to get a few in with some mates and destress a bit when I heard about the Japan Quake. Rushed home as my two little Nephews are in Tokyo with their Mum, they are all ok thank goodness.

[andewhall]

Dear Sufer's,

How are you all, hope everyone is good out there in denim land.

Unfortunately the worst news regarding the condition of the workshop came in yesterday. The building has been very badly damaged in the Earthquake that struck on Tuesday the 22nd of February and is set to be demolished in the next week. Earthquakes are a hell of a thing, it's taken over 200 lives, my home, workshop and I still can't find me little cat.

I have to thank my good fortune that all friends and family are safe, and that I wasn't walking to, or in the workshop during the Quake. The workshop is in a cordoned red zone, as well as a super cordoned "No Access Zone' in the worst hit area in the central city, shadowed by a large hotel that is on a lean and will have to bought down in the near future. Some business owners will be allowed access to their buildings to salvage gear, but not in this very dangerous no access zone where the workshop is situated. For myself and others in this terrible situation, the Urban Search and Rescue squads are coordinating with bussiness owners to salvage what they can from the premises before the building is demolished. The 'smash and grab' allowed lot for each business is approx 5-10 minutes and a 44 gallon drum to fill with the most important items, which has been relayed to the Urban Search and Rescue guys by the business owners. But there are still no promises that they will be able to salvage anything. They will try their best, but if there is any danger what so ever they won't take the risk, which is a fair call. I have given some good instructions about trying to grab pattern drafts, labels, hardware (there may be thousands of buttons and rivets scattered across the floor however) and the denim, which may not be able to saved as it's quite heavy and won't fit in the 44 gallon drum. Everything else, machines, patterns, tools, computer and stock will be crushed with a wrecking ball and digger. It's a hell of shame indeed.

So much time building this small denim business will be lost for forever. Money just can't replace some things that have taken years of work and collecting. All the old sewing machines scrounged and bought back to life. Sewing machines like the Durkopp keyhole buttonholer are as rare as hen's teeth here in New Zealand, affordable old ones that is, brand new ones are 8-12K. Another most unfortunate situation is my insurance had lapsed and I was going through the process of finding a new company, stupid, stupid bugger I am...took to long, pissed around and procrastinated about getting it done.

After having said all that....I will be back fellas! I just have to start again, having done it once, I'm sure it won't take to long before I will be back in action getting the hand made jeans to the people. I will need some time to organise things, get a new home, most probably with a workshop attached, in a garage or a big house. There are limited good spaces left in the city, and homes are in short supply now too. I don't really wish to live/work in the city anymore anyhow, to freaky and it will be a long time until it is back up and running. It may be cordoned off for months while they demolish nearly 150 buildings.

There are some immediate problems to overcome to get back in action. Finding a good place to get set up again will be the first step, I am staying at my brothers house at the moment, which lucky escaped any Quake damage. The next step will be gathering suitable sewing machines and trying to pay existing bills to avoid losing essential suppliers. If the patterns, labels and hardware can't be recovered, there is a ton of man hours to re-cut patterns and money to replace hardware and labels. I really don't think the USAR guys will be able to rescue the denim, such a shame as the two 50m rolls for the contest had just come in and also the 50m of the Special Roll denim, four days before the Quake hit. My supplier in Japan sends me the denim when I order it and I make payment on the 20th of the month, or later, he is a super mellow guy and we have an unwritten contract based on trust. So basically I need to pay for the 100m of contest denim to keep me in good stead with these great denim makers. I have always been rubbish at asking for help, I find it quite embarassing and don't like to put people out. I am going to put up a $20 'save my bacon Earthquake messed up the AW jeans production and needs to pay denim bills' rescue fund on the website. So if you have a spare 20 bucks lying around it will definitely be going to a good denim cause. I run the business on next to nothing and put all earnings back into it. Not really the best way to work, always fighting off the ropes, but was the only way to make progress with new garments and branding etc. I had patterns and labels ready to go for new models of jackets and shirts that were in the final design phases. Heartbreaking really, they never got into reality.

Thanks very much to all of you who have supported me over the years, getting a bit choked up now about years of awesome Sufu guys, extremely funny, interesting and bouncing around all kinds of ideas. And the Superfuture creators themselves, great guys that have made a special place for all of this to happen. The best part of my job is hearing your feedback about the jeans, your stories and just having great chats. By no means will I ever give up on the label, this denim thing gets in your blood as you know, haha.

The Workshop is in the red 'no access area. Whole blocks around this area are going to be demolished.

[altemp]

Wish you luck in your new start Ande. It's an awful situation to be in but you're a talented guy and sufu is behind you as you bounce back.

Cheers

[D-Rizzle]

Donated!!!!! Best of luck to ya Ande.

[madstaxbro]

Your optimism in light of this whole situation is amazing. I hope to see your world famous jeans rise up from the ashes again.