After the turbulent year of 2020, we don’t blame you if you’re ready to reinvent your style and feel happier within yourself for the year ahead.
But doing so can be a challenge in itself, especially with the shops being closed yet again due to the country’s third national lockdown.
But on the plus side, there are some hidden gems within Manchester’s fashion scene that are offering the hottest new styles to take on 2021.
It’s more important now than ever to support our local businesses, and these up-and-coming clothing boutiques are definitely ones to keep on your radar this year.
The Norah Store
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJn_DTvgVWa/
We’ll definitely be seeing more slow fashion and eco-conscious alternatives make their way to the forefront in 2021, and one of the brands pioneering this in Manchester is The Norah Store.
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The team at The Norah Store moved into a new studio space between Christmas and New Year, promising lots of exciting launches including a new collection that we can expect to see in March.
From whimsical patterned socks to elegant dresses, this boutique is Manchester’s one-stop-shop for all of the latest styles that will be lifelong treasures in your wardrobe.
With many retail venues closed, finding outfits to fit your rapidly growing toddlers and children can be harder than ever.
But Be Diddy is a Manchester-based brand transforming the idea of old, tired hand-me-downs by curating an adorable collection of vintage garments for babies. You’d never be able to guess that these clothes are pre-loved!
All of their items are incredibly cute and cosy, leaving your toddler on top of the trends in a pair of Carhartt dungarees or a vintage jacket.
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They also offer a buy-back scheme which is a great way to return garments that your children have outgrown and try out some of their latest pieces and styles.
Their first clothing drop of 2021 is on January 15, so make sure you stay tuned on their Instagram page for a chance to bag some of these adorable creations.
While their boisterous and quirky clothing was a massive hit in Manchester, this year will see Hoyden get a complete makeover.
After deciding to leave their Afflecks store in favour of a home studio and discontinuing the previous product range, it’s clear that the brand will be completely reinvented in 2021.
Olivia Denny, the creator of Hoyden, is promising bigger and better things for this funky feminist boutique, but we will have to keep an eye out during 2021 as her vision is still completely under wraps.
If you want to inject some simplicity and serenity into your home and wardrobe this year, look no further than Nordic Muse.
The brand has recently closed their doors and are moving into a new space on Tib Street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter – when the pandemic permits, that is.
This change in location is just one of many exciting things to come for Nordic Muse in 2021, so if you are in the market for some Scandi-inspired homeware or elegant jewellery, this is one to remember.
A splash of colour and brightness is definitely something we could use in our lives and wardrobes right now.
Jeneral Store is home to a decadent selection of vintage finds and handcrafted accessories in a cheerful colour palette that is perfect for the transition into spring (maybe it’s a bit early, but we’re certainly ready for some sunshine).
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After the difficult decision to close down their Depop and Asos Marketplace platforms due to their overwhelming popularity, Jen is now dedicated fully to growing the Jeneral Store website and creating some gorgeous items for our wardrobes.
If you’re like us and not ready to part with the scrunchies trend, this is an absolute must-see!
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Music charity launches exclusive giveaway after naming Liam Gallagher as newest ambassador
Danny Jones
A local grassroots music charity is holding a special giveaway of exclusive Oasis x adidas Originals merch to celebrate Liam Gallagher becoming their latest ambassador.
The legendary British frontman and global rock icon is no stranger to teaming up with charities, but this latest project is seeing him focus on his hometown and the Manc music scene more than ever.
Brighter Sound, who are based right here in Manchester city centre, announced the one and only Liam Gallagher as their latest collaborator on Monday, 1 June, but that’s not all.
As mentioned above, they’re also holding a prize draw to raise funds for the cause, with some special kicks up for grabs – and they’re a model that became collectors’ items almost instantly.
The local music development organisation, which has been helping support young artists and aspiring creatives for more than two and a half decades at this point, revealed Liam would be teaming up not only to help promote fellow Mancunians in and around the music industry.
But there’s still much more to it than that.
With this special fundraising initiative also on the table – as are a limited edition pair of his sold-out adidas Achille SPZL trainers (including the extremely rare and highly sought-after Japanese-exclusive version) as part of the giveaway – this marks a commitment to supporting up-and-coming talent.
All proceeds from the charitable prize draw will go towards a crucial pot of money that will then go directly towards backing rising musicians across the region.
In case you haven’t seen the shoes in question, both Liam and his elder sibling Noel teamed up with adidas Originals during the Oasis Live ’25 merch boom and reunion tour phenomenon as a whole, each creating their own special ‘Spezial’ design. You can see more of them down below.
They obviously flew off the shelves rather quickly.
Speaking in an official statement, the 53-year-old said of the fresh partnership: “I’m honoured to be an Ambassador for Brighter Sound and support the new generation of creatives launch their music projects. We need more help for the arts, especially for the working class.”
Getting to work in and around his native territory across Greater Manchester will no doubt be an added bonus for the Burnage-born Gallagher brother.
As for Brighter Sound, the organisation’s director, Kate Lowes, added: “It’s a real honour to be working with Liam and his team on this special prize draw, and to welcome him as an ambassador for Brighter Sound. Manchester is an incredible place for music – and Liam and Oasis are a huge part of that story.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to making sure that more amazing talent continues to grow from the city and find its place on the world stage.”
For anyone looking to enter the prize draw and help support Brighter Sound’s work across Greater Manchester, you can do so right HERE.
Featured Images — Brighter Sound (supplied)/Jonnysmirth (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Manchester United reportedly set to release first-ever fourth kit for 2026/27 season
Danny Jones
In what will be a club-first, it’s being claimed that Manchester United will be releasing a fourth kit for the 2026/27 campaign.
And no, we don’t mean a special one-off pre-match jersey or training shirt; this will be an additional alternative Man United strip to be worn in games next season.
With the current term set to conclude in just a couple of games’ time, and the Red Devils having now secured a return to the Champions League, they’re marking their comeback with their inaugural fourth kit – one for each of the competitions they will be playing in this year.
Football clubs often rotate between two or even three kits, but it’s not all that often that you see a side springing for another one.
💣💣💣 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Adidas to Release First-Ever Manchester United 4th Kit in 26-27: https://t.co/xDJa8inmPG
As broken by reliable football fashion source, Footy Headlines, while there isn’t much information around what the kit will look like, or even what the colour will be just yet, it is believed it will be a variation on the classic trio of red, white and black used for home shirts, shorts and socks.
Historically, most teams that have opted to take on an extra kit usually do so when competing in more tournaments than most terms – such as Manchester City in the most recent Club World Cup – for special anniversary matches, milestone derbies, cup-ties or some kind of limited-edition collaboration.
However, according to the online outlet, this fourth kit will be match-worn at some point in 2026/27, though we are yet to get a clear timeline.
Meanwhile, posters for the new MUFC home shirt are currently going up outside Old Trafford.
Footy Headlines state that the launch is expected in early next year, rather than for the start of 26/27, and many supporters are already speculating that it will be worn primarily for European/cup fixtures.
Shirts like these are always likely to become collectors’ items, and it goes without saying that, besides being a helpful rotation when it comes to potential kit clashes, this will no doubt serve as yet another money spinner for both them and Adidas.
United’s current deal with the German kit manufacturers runs until 2035, and if this proves to be a popular addition to their sportswear lineup and the ever-growing ‘casual culture’ among fans, we wouldn’t be surprised if you see even more fourth shirts coming out of Manchester in the future.
Speaking of footy kits, for those who haven’t seen it already, he’s a close-up look at the aforementioned Manchester United home strip for next season.
Daisy Bradbury -
8th January 2021 
