You don’t have to choose between being stylish or sustainable anymore. These Manchester-based clothing brands are both saving the planet and your wardrobe.
In recent years, being sustainable and eco-friendly has become more of a necessity than a choice for many fashion brands – with industry revealed as the second largest source of pollution worldwide.
Yet, in a climate still dominated by fast fashion and constantly changing trends, it can be a lot harder than it seems to support this movement and find ways to shop sustainably without the excessive price tag.
If you don’t know where to begin, we have curated this list of our favourite Manchester independent brands and stores that are prioritising sustainability alongside style.
Rock On Ruby
This Bury-based sassy clothing brand aims to empower women and promote individuality through slogan t-shirts – with ROR garments sported by style icons such as Louisa Johnson and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall.
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The brand made the switch to fairwear clothing in 2016, so you can guarantee their range is ethically-made.
Rock On Ruby also holds a weekly sample sale on their Instagram every Wednesday with any products that may have minor faults or misprints; eliminating waste and giving customers the perfect chance to get their hands on some pieces.
This contemporary unisex clothing brand is on a mission to prove that sustainable clothing doesn’t have to be plain or boring.
Based in the heart of Manchester, Native Youth is creating collections of modern, trend-led clothing that also have minimal impact on the earth.
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The brand is continuing to develop products from sustainable sources and have vowed that all future collections will be made using 100% organic cotton.
Private White V.C. commemorates Manchester’s roots as ‘Cottonopolis’ during the Industrial Revolution; handcrafting all garments in the original Manchester cotton mill that has been the brand’s home since 1932.
Private White is committed to locally sourced manufacturing and handcrafting garments to result in less waste and a smaller carbon footprint, whilst still creating some stylish, staple men’s pieces.
After establishing two shops in South Manchester in 1994, McQueen Independent has been on the hunt for independent labels that share their love of vibrant colours and patterns.
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Sustainability is crucial when curating these eclectic and quirky looks, and McQueen constantly strive to work with independents who are ethical and support Fairtrade.
Jeneral Store is an emerging Manchester-based fashion brand focused on creating trendy and affordable vintage collections.
Although scrunchies are the speciality, Jeneral sell a variety of reimagined items in signature girly style and pastel colour palette.
All products are either vintage or from an ethical supplier, with every single element down to the swing tags and packaging sustainably sourced and biodegradable.
Sephora confirms opening date for new megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London, and its first trip up north.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
Hoardings have appeared inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding, around a unit next to AllSaints.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”
Manchester’s Club de Padel claps back at ’embarrassing’ copycat ASOS product
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester business has sarcastically pointed out the glaring similarities between a new t-shirt on ASOS and one of its own designs.
Club de Padel has a range of retro-inspired merch with UN:IK, a small independent streetwear brand also based here in Manchester.
Its collection of t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, hats and bags often feature a design of an illustrated padel ball (which to the untrained eye is basically a tennis ball) in motion.
But this week a t-shirt appeared on ASOS that also featured an illustrated padel ball in motion, just in a slightly different colour palette.
The ASOS version, which has now been removed from sale, also undercut Club de Padel’s price by £6.
Since Club de Padel took the ’embarrassing’ copycat product public on their Instagram page, ASOS has launched an investigation and taken it off their website.
The sports venture, based at Deansgate Square and the only padel club in Manchester, wrote: “Love the new designs ASOS, kinda reminds us of something though…
“Ah. Well that’s embarrassing… We’ve got a new line coming soon with UN:IK Clothing you’re just gonna love ASOS.
“In the meantime we made this for you @asos, save your design team a job.”
An ASOS spokesperson said: “We take intellectual property issues very seriously and have removed this product from sale while we investigate further.”
Of the Club de Padel and UN:IK collaboration, aka the real deal, UN:IK says it has ‘served up a staple for us, retro inspired leisure pieces with Manchester’s first ever padel club’.
Club de Padel in Manchester has gone public to poke fun at ASOS
They wrote: “Inspired by owners after a trip to Spain, Club de Padel has hit the city with a wave and the lifestyle brand we have created with them reinforces the fastest growing sport across Europe.
“Our classic vintage washes and oversized fits, working with independent designs as always on this local independent partnership. Don’t be afraid to the sport, we’ll guarantee you love it as much as these clothes.”