Behind Andrea Biani
Andrea and Vern Bailey are the powerhouse duo at the helm of Christchurch’s leading legacy footwear brand Andrea Biani. In 2026 they celebrate 30 years of business and a modern chapter ahead. Metropol editor Nina Tucker catches up with the solemates over coffee.
Andrea and Vern Bailey’s invisible string was perhaps instead a shoelace. At 21, the pair hit the same milestone, each stepping up to manage respective shoe stores. Years earlier, they’d left school to become shoe salespeople; on her first day Andrea sold more than anyone else and soon sought a management position, while Vern worked his way into head office as a buyer (it was there he connected with the Andrea Biani brand, founded by the four Perillo brothers). The South Island shoe scene would never be the same when the industry brought Andrea and Vern together.
Each Andrea Biani boutique could send Sex And The City’s Carrie Bradshaw to cloud nine. “They were so innovative way back then, those Italian brothers. They made things that were different from the standard range,” Vern says – a philosophy that feels just as alive today materialising through new-season kitten heel, fur-covered mules and raspberry pink patent leather lace-ups.
I took some time before our conversation to browse the latest arrivals (still heartbroken that a perfect pair of gold pumps had sold out in my size). It’s there that I first meet Andrea and Vern – each a vision of sartorial excellence, and easily mistaken for promising potential customers, that is, if you had never seen Vern hauling a trolley of new stock into the store. Andrea pairs a monogram Karen Walker top with warm-toned trousers and a delightful green jacket, and Vern’s sleek suiting uniform is complete with a pocket square. Even at 9am there’s no sign of the Monday blues and their enthusiasm for the week ahead feels refreshing.
“It’s that love of shoes, and keeping the legacy of Andrea Biani alive, it’s always been about passion,” Vern says. “We love beautiful shoes, and I love seeing beautifully dressed women,” Andrea adds, sipping from her peppermint tea (if chic was a drink, it would definitely be peppermint tea).
But make no mistake, behind the beautiful outfits and beaming smiles are tales of brand-building characterised by seven-day work weeks and a painstaking grind. “We look at it as work-life integration, not work-life balance,” Andrea laughs, though it suits a pair of active relaxers.
THE 30-YEAR GRIND
That no-spare-time sacrifice began in 1996, when Andrea and Vern purchased the Andrea Biani brand and its Merivale, city centre, and Dunedin stores. Over time, the Dunedin store closed, an outlet in Hornby’s Dressmart was introduced, and the city centre store found its home in retail precinct The Crossing, all while the pair built a strong online presence. “The key to any business is meeting the market and not being so removed that you alienate yourself,” Vern says. “You have to be relevant, present, and understand your customer,” Andrea adds.
“Vern’s at the store every day. We get weekly feedback from all the stores because we don’t want to miss those conversations and opportunities. We’re really in tune with the customer,” Andrea explains. “Ask, Is your product right for the market and have you got enough of the good styles?” Vern says. In Christchurch, understanding demographics is key – like recognising the need for sizes up to 44 or catering to various aesthetics and needs. “There’s a real fashion girl, but there’s also a big part of the market that’s older, and she wants more comfort in a really nice shoe, so we’ve introduced a comfort brand.”
Insight like that has kept the Andrea Biani brand alive for 30 years – including 28 years of presence in Merivale Mall – and catapulted their small accessories line, Treasure Box By Biani, into the high-fashion merchant it is today carrying legacy New Zealand brands like Karen Walker and Deadly Ponies. “In June 2017, I came home one day and Vern said “I’ve got good news and I’ve got good news. The good news is that [Merivale Mall] still wants us in, and the other good news is are you ready?” Vern had taken an opportunity on a new lease double the size – meaning the two brands would neighbour each other – and the expansion came with a stressful yet rewarding refit for both stores.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Like most in the Christchurch market, recent history has blurred the lines between success and survival mode. “Look, no one has escaped it. We’ve had to batten down the hatches and hang on tight,” Vern admits. Even with Andrea Biani recording its strongest start in two years, the global economy currently raises alarm bells. “If you had asked me [about business for the year ahead] before Trump invaded Iran, I’d say we’re on our way, it’s looking good. Now, there’s some concern,” Vern says.
“There is positivity out there, there’s pockets of it,” Andrea reasons. “You have to focus on that. There’s always going to be peripheral stuff, we can’t control those factors around us but we can control what’s in front of us and where we’re going. When things are tough, you just have to work through them. There’s an industry you can talk to, to know that you’re not alone is the key. Sometimes you can go very insular.”
If it’s not war threatening the market, it’s fast fashion, retail-disruptive e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu bullying local and family-owned businesses. “They’ve bombarded every country with no control over it. It’s had a big effect,” Vern says. “So we’ve refocused and upskilled in today’s retail.”
What Andrea and Vern have found by putting their best foot forward is the power of a beautiful shoe. “With Covid-19, everything became very casual. It all became about sneakers and casualwear. Now we’re seeing a really nice turn towards beautiful fashion and self-expression again,” Andrea reflects.
“This change suits our business because that’s what we provide, fashion footwear that’s going to make you look and feel good. We’ve still got sneakers but now there’s loafers and boots and colour and texture and everything delicious that we love.”
At the heart of their 30-year journey is that enduring adoration of footwear, Andrea says, reflecting on an early memory. “Back in the day, I would write to my grandmother once a month. I told her that I’d started this new job and she wrote back and said ‘Oh darling, you might have a career in shoes.”
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QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Where can we find you outside of office hours?
Andrea: I’m probably listening to some amazing podcast that’s going to inspire me. The Diary of a CEO with Steven Barlett’s episode Longevity Debate: The Truth About Weight Loss, Muscle, and Creatine has been life-changing for me.
Vern: In the garden.
What would our readers be surprised to know about you?
Andrea: I’m very nerdy. I love to learn.
Vern: How old I am.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give?
Andrea: Stay focused.
Vern: Work hard, play hard.
Your favourite place for lunch around Merivale?
Andrea: Cocoa Black.
Vern: Brigittes or Savoire.
Tell me your most memorable moment over 30 years in business?
Andrea: When we opened Treasure Box By Biani and the wrapping came down. We were sitting opposite the store and I was overwhelmed with emotion.
Vern: Mine was back in 1998 when our tiny store in Merivale became a beautiful new store in Merivale Mall. That was quite special.
If you could change one thing about the local fashion industry, what would it be?
Andrea: People need to talk more. We’re all in it together.
How has your style changed since you began in the industry?
Andrea: I was that 21-year-old with the permed hair looking like a mini version of my mother. Now my style is chic.
Vern: I was a Beatles fan, I had my Beatles boots. We had flares and platforms and long hair, didn’t we? When I got to head office I had to change that and wear a tie and suit.
