The Living Dolls Show 2010

Here at nudel, not only are we seeking the next amazing designer for a print on the next run, but we're also on the hunt for male models for an awesome upcoming show! The Living Dolls Show 2010 is happening at The Bedford in Christchurch on the 28th August and nudel is right amoungst the thick of it.

The uber talented Sophia Lee and her team put the Living Dolls show on last year for the first time I think and it totally sold out, infact I think they had to turn people away. So this year they're hoping for a two nighter so everyone gets a piece of the action. And it's not just a lingerie show, there's oh so much more - burlesque acts, circus acts, Roller Derby girls hooning around looking awesome, dancers, a live band and yours truly will be taking care of the MC duties.

So if you know of a fella who's comfy enough in his undies to strut his stuff infront a room of excitable people then we'd love to hear from him! Simply email morgan@nudel.co.nz with a pic (preferably in your gruds) and we'll take it from there. You don't have to be an Adonis - I want real-world-bodied men, a little spare tyre ain't going to hurt none, don't you worry. I'll be right there with you and I'm a skinny ninny so we'll all be in this together! Oh yes, don't forget there will be numerous scantily ladies everywhere too, but I'm sure you'll get used to that very quickly indeed.

If you're a girl reading this, then let's get your man involved! Dare him, tempt him, make deal, he'll be amazing.

New design time

Hey there undie fans. Well the time has finally come, the next run is nigh; nudel is now looking for the next amazing New Zealand artist for their design to feature on the next run! Graphic designers, painters, photographers, stencilers, anyone is welcome to submit a piece. We're not running a competition this time, you simply email your best design to morgan@nudel.co.nz and we'll pick our favourite one.

This time round we'll be swapping out the white fabric with grey but sticking with good 'ol black as well. Grey seemed slightly safer for guys who are maybe a little shy of white, so we'll see how that goes, hopefully really well! Mediums by far are the best seller so we'll producing even larger numbers in that size and less of XL most likely and even L. What else, what else...

Make sure you spread the word! We're excited to see some more examples from talented Kiwis nationwide. Until next time :)

nudel commercial

Ladies and Gentlemen it has been much too long since the last post (Feb some time? sheesh) so firstly, apologies for the slackness. Moving office has contributed to that, but relocating didn't take 4 months so there's really no excuse. Now that's out of the way, here's some exciting news - we shot the first ever nudel commercial last week!

Nudel Funeral from Morgan Williams on Vimeo.

Myself and the very talened Simon Waterhouse devised a shoot based around the simple idea of a funeral, this is mostly because I happened to have a real coffin I obtained from a music video shoot I was involved with for band Sleeping Dogs. But also because I wanted to show nudel in a tongue in cheek kind of way, where it took the spotlight, it became the most attractive feature of our poor hero post-mortem.

We shot the entire scene in my new house's main dining room, using only natural lighting with the help of Nick Palmer and his awesome Canon 7D. Thanks heaps Nick! And cheers to all our amazing actors who came looking great in their mourning garb, not really knowing what to expect. The shoot took about 2 hours in total then editing not long at all, with simple desaturation and minimal colour grading on Final Cut Pro. Kristen Spencer was on catering duties and rose to the occasion with a fantastic selection of muffins, pizzas and cheerios. Ha!

The plan is to film a series of videos like this one, where I want to explore the culture and ideology around men's underwear and make them more entertaining than anything else. The next ad will be based around what your Mother used to say, something like: "Make sure you're wearing clean underwear, incase you get hit by a bus." I'm not sure if my Mum ever said that to me, but I've heard of it. Can anyone give me the correct wording?? So anyway, you can imagine what the content of the vid will be. Really looking forward to getting stuck into it and will keep you posted on that one.

Make sure you check out Simon Waterhouse's site: www.pxl.co.nz

nüdel's story

Why nüdel? Why should anyone read this blog? Currently there are no followers as far as I can tell, so why the hell would anyone in their right mind subscribe? I have just been reading '279 days to overnight success'; a fantastic report by Chris Guillebeau which covers his unconventional journey to full time writing. Now, while I don't personally want to become a full time writer, Chris focuses a lot on why you're writing a blog in the first place, who it's aimed at and what keeps them coming back. If you haven't read the report I seriously suggest you check it out!

So after reading the report, I thought; 'what is nudel's story?' Chris' was to visit every country in the world, he's been self employed his entire adult life and lived in West Africa for four years. Not only that but he speaks to creative people, folks who want to make a change and as his website's name makes very clear - master the Art of Non-Conformity. Who wouldn't want to be involved with that! It sounds exciting, with huge potential, it may not appeal to everyone but it appeals to me personally and especially the nudel brand. nudel is all about making noise - with locally created art, unique marketing tactics not yet seen by any other men's underwear brand and pushing the New Zealand made angle to the world (I'm thinking big here).

Right, the story. I guess it's more of a crusade, a mission and again, one aimed more at women than at guys. Don't get me wrong, I would love to try reach men about underwear but the fact of the matter is they just don't buy them as much as their partners, wives, sisters and really, at the end of the day (and this may seem like a gross generalisation, but you'd be surprised how true it is) guys just don't care. So until I see otherwise, I'm talking to who's listening: ladies. Women who want the man in their lives to look good under his clothes.

So the crusade? Simple, it's to expose bad underwear. For too long men have been subject to badly fitting briefs, tacky 'silk' boxers with no support and ride up at any chance they get, Y fronts that while serving their purpose 20 odd years ago, SERVED THEIR PURPOSE 20 ODD YEARS AGO. This journey will be about educating, encouraging women to take charge - this isn't like demanding he burn that sweater you hate, this is personal, it's intimate, between you and him and is a situation that he probably doesn't mind you taking complete charge! I don't know many guys that would mind a little fashion advice from their lady, and I whole heartedly believe if taking your advice in the undie department might help their chances elsewhere, namely the bedroom, then gentlemen, let yourself be lead, you only stand to gain.

Now nudel has a certifiable goal, next step is find men who need a hand, I need to document these examples for the world to see. To let the masses (or first few people who read this) know that it's not OK for guys to wear bad underwear. High rollers, teachers, gym bunnies, construction workers - all deserve to be well packaged, comfortable and feeling great.

Mail out - old school style

Some times you just can't beat hard copy in this digital day and age. nüdel Christmas postcards have been distributed around Christchurch's Tumara Park yesterday and today, reminding people that nüdel is a great stocking filler and detailing the stockists they can find them at.

But if you're reading this and wondering where your postcard is, don't fret just check out the nüdel website, it's basically all on there! Currently we're waiting on a new lot of stickers for the noodle boxes which will be ready Monday we're told. So once they're ready it's full steam ahead with phase two of nüdelness, more stock to shops nation wide just in time for the last few days of the Christmas rush and of course internet sales which are always welcome.

Hope your Christmas shopping is going well!

And the winner is...

... Cathryn Zhang with her piece: It's Man Made! Congragtulations Cathryn and well done everyone who entered, the talent was amazing, which of course made it very difficult to choose a winner. Here's what Cathryn said about her work...

My design is an idea that comes from the process involved in constructing an urban environment. When you see the new trees and flowers being planted to style up a newly constructed round-about, road kerb, or some concrete wall, there is the feeling of nature being put into our urban life deliberately, and not existing..naturally. To me, that type of nature is urban nature.

So Cathryn will receive 5 pairs of nüdel with her design on them when they've been produced and of course the rest of the run will be distributed to stores throughout New Zealand (and now Shanghai!!) in time for the Christmas rush, so we're hoping they'll sell out!

Thank you again to everybody who entered, we'll be running a similar comp again in the near future so be sure to stay tuned. Don't forget tomorrow's Father's Day so there's still just enough time to get out and buy him a pair of nüdel, he'll love you for it. Remember all those times he lent you money, or picked you up at 3am from that party or watched you play all those Saturday morning sports games in the rain? Well now's your chance to show him how much you care, with the coolest undies in the world, made right here in New Zealand.

One week left!

Entries for the nüdel artist competition officially close on the 31st of August so if you're an arty type then best you get cracking if you want to be in the running for a line of nüdel printed with your design on it! Imagine that - a limited run of boutique undies with your piece of art on them being distributed around our fair country and worn by a whole bunch of dudes! Now that's hot.

Here goes a few more designs that are up on the comp page, the standard's been set pretty high but don't let that put you off, I know there are more people out there who can create something quite amazing and I want to see it!

nudel on the catwalk

I just got back from a whirlwind trip in the UK for a mate's wedding, conrgats Sam and Flip! It was a great day and the wedding was beeeautiful.

While I was overseas HEAPS of artists submitted some incredible designs, thanks to all. I've only just had the chance to post them on the nudel comp page, so apologies for the delay in getting them online. Do check them out, the quality of them blew my mind, there are some bloody talented people out there I tell you! Don't forget - the deadline for submissions is the 31st of August so if you haven't already, get creating and email your design to comp@nudel.co.nz - for more info and a design template go to the nudel comp page.

Thought I'd throw up a few pics from the St. Johns Fashionistas show held before I took off to England. The boys did such a great job getting up there in their gruds infront of a room mostly full of ladies! Thanks again to Simon, Scotty and Jonathan.

St. John Fashionista's Charity Lunch

I'd like to think the St. John would be there for me in any dire time of need I may encounter in the future. I haven't had any need for them yet but I know they do some amazing work and often go unnoticed but we'd certainly notice if they weren't there! St. John are putting on a fundraiser called the Fashionista's Charity Lunch, it's on Thursday 30th at the Crowne Plaza First Edition Bar. So basically it's a really nice meal and drinkies with entertainment in the form of a kick ass boutique fashion show. 

nüdel is involved with Fashionistas, we've got a few models strutting their stuff showcasing the couple of designs so far (damn I need more!). It should be really cool, guys wearing undies in the middle of a predominantly female orientated fashion show is a nice break, and what lady doesn't like seeing a dude in his gruds? Well, I probably think of a few but not this time bub! There's also going to be nüdel give aways and we'll have a table set up for people to purchase a pair after the show. I hope I have the balls to wear them as I sell, but I've got to do sound too so maybe it'll be slightly impractical - especially if it's cold. Don't want to hit the 'skip' button on the CD player if you know what I mean.

Will throw up a couple more artist submissions tomorrow so come back for a look :)

Artist competition

Well the nüdel artist comp is well underway with some fantastic entries being submitted from talented peeps right across the country. I'll throw up a couple each post over the coming weeks just to give you a taste but if you want to check out all of the pieces go to the nüdel comp page to see the lot. I know it's going to be really difficult to chose a winner already!

The above piece 'YES' was submitted by Lucy Han from Auckland who says 

my design interprets the theme of ‘Urban Nature’ as an image of the nature of the urban lifestyle - fast paced and excessive, and just like nature, it has the power to take you over.

This work is by Christchurch artist Leonard Wills and is entitled Mr. Roper's House.

So we're looking pretty sweet and that's only two of them! I can't wait to see some more come in, if you've got a creative bone in your person why not sketch something down and send it in? You can check out the details on the comp page - all the info you'll need. Get involved!

nüdel blog blogged about

The lovely Anne Rash up there in Auckland posted a blog about nüdel on her site The Owlander, check it out! 

Things are trucking along, elastic for the waist band is at the screen printers having the logo printed on - this is a damn fiddly job which would take me waaay too long especially seeing as I don't have carousel. Screen Concepts do a really good job too, I'd be too inconsistent. Having the logo sewn into the elastic would be ideal but apparently that's near impossible to do with nylon elastic. Screen printing it is fine but also quite pricy and obviously not as durable as having the letters woven in. One day!

Ah behind the scenes, well now I've finished all the printing this table will gradually be immersed with all types of clutter until the next run. The thing about printing is it really makes me feel as if I have actually done something - the result is tangible, unlike spending hours trying to work out how to set up an online shop or entering stock info in a spreadsheet or chasing up retailers. But it's all work which needs to be done at the end of the day, and I should count myself lucky I live in a country where I am able to start my own business, let alone eat good food every day, wear ok clothes, go out with mates etc. Some times it's good to put things into perspective. I look forward to the day when I can give back to people who need, when I can support myself through nüdel alone and have profit left over to help someone else.

nüdel on Good Morning

Well finally the footage from Good Morning arrived in the post! Thank you to Miranda at CoCo PR up in Aucks for sending it down and of course for hooking up nüdel on Good Morning the first place. I'm so stoked nüdel was worn by the best looking/built model there that day, great job Brook! 

Printing is going well, when I press the print once it's dry, clouds of fumes puff up from beneath the irons and while it's not an unpleasant smell, there must be something in it as I always end up getting a head spin. And that's with doors open. Now my technique is well down and I have really increased speed thank god, I'm making my way through the last of the mediums, having finished all Large and there aren't as many small and XL sizes as last time. 

and the new design is...

...called Chaos! You can kind of see why, it's a beautiful chaos though, thanks to the uber talented Nicky Perry up in Auckland. 

Understand now why it's going to be interesting to print? The grey is on one screen and the black on another, I'll have to line up those little squiggly lines perfectly to get it looking just right. But it's definitely do-able, and I'll get to spend some quality time with every pair of nüdel. That's got to be a good thing - every unit bought has been in contact with the owner of the company - how many other clothing manufacturers can say that?!  

I'm just trying to work out what's the best promo item I can include in the press pack I'll be sending to promote the nüdel artist competition. It needs to fit in a noodle box and has to be something cool - nothing tacky - they're being sent to media savvy people who get this kind of thing all the time. Hmmm... any ideas? 

Round 2

Finally they have arrived - the cut panels, all 250 pairs worth of them. While they look deceptively less than the first run because they consist of less material, (being shorter leg trunk style) it's actually going to take me twice as long to print them due to a two layer screen print. But it'll be worth it!

Who just loves keeping track of stock and invoicing? Want to do mine? While I find this side of business quite intense and at times incredibly frustrating, it's good to learn these new skills if you want to succeed at this early stage. No one else is going to do it for me and it's a good idea to get these systems in place right from the start because if I didn't, I know I would just keep putting it off and off... however I'm really looking forward to the day when I can employ an account AND accounts manager type person! Will pop some bubbly that day.

...on Good Morning

Well, I didn't see the nüdel feature on Good Morning this morning but I got texts and nüdel facebook messages from people who did, so thank you! Sounded like it went quite well and was featured with another brand of undies called Four Fontaine. TVNZ's website is a seething beast and I didn't realise I could stream GM until I found the miniscule link hidden in the bowels of the site until too damn late. Anyhoo, here's a little link on the TVNZ website to a shred of nüdel exposure

I had some great news from Miranda, my PR lady on the weekend (who I met face to face at ChCh airport for the first time) Rex Turnbull is keen on submitting a piece of art for a limited run! This is big news people, Rex is a living legend. So along with him and Tiki Taane the list is slowly but surely growing, I can't wait to see who else jumps onboard the nüdel band wagon.

As soon as I get any footage from Good Morning I'll post it quick smart!

Another step

Meet Bart Hoedemakers, the first nüdel artist. Bart is a super talented stencil artist based in Canterbury, to view more of his work click here

I received the pdf mock up of the nüdel competition guidelines today from my brilliant PR person in Auckland at Coco PR. It looks great and it's simple to understand, anyone should be able to follow the instructions and submit their work. From what I can tell, most artists nowadays are pretty internet/graphics editing program savvy so I don't foresee any problems. Get your creative wheels cranking for the 1st of April!

The cutting is almost under way for the next run of short leg 'trunk style' nüdel, just had to clarify a few issues first, as last time equal numbers across the size range was cut - not what I wanted. But this time we're all on the same page and I won't have to worry about trying to get rid of a large stock pile of XLs. 

Can't wait to get up to Auckland and start whoring nüdel to shops up there, I know it's going to go off!