Affordable luxury eyewear brand IOLLA has launched a new eco collection, and you can see it in all its glory in the new Manchester store.
Shoppers may remember that the innovative Scottish brand – which offers affordable quality glasses and sunglasses for a single price point – last summer chose Manchester as the first place to open a showroom outside of its native country.
IOLLA Manchester opened its doors on St Ann’s Square in August 2022, and has already brought a fresh take on eyewear retail to the shopping and fashion scene in our city centre.
While the brand prides itself on offering “a spectacular shopping experience like no other”, IOLLA says it’s also committed to making sure its products are as sustainable as they are stylish – and that’s why it’s launched a brand-new ‘Eco-Collection’.
While 69% of people in the UK wear glasses, recent research has revealed that 3,000 tonnes of lenses go to landfill each year.
With a pledge to make 25% of its range eco by the end of 2023, IOLLA’s new collection features fully biodegradable eco-acetates, which means that frames can be broken down naturally without causing pollution.
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‘Butter Tortoise’ and ‘Crystal Fade’ from the Douglas Collection are the first two pairs to have been added to the new Eco-Collection, while all of IOLLA’s black frames are also made from 70% recycled acetate – which is produced from off-cuts that would usually be discarded during the frame manufacturing process.
Alongside developing more sustainable materials for the new Eco-Collection, IOLLA is also offering a new ‘Refresh Service’ aimed at “breathing new life” into your old IOLLA frames, so whether it’s a change in prescription or a scratched lens to your beloved pair, there’s range of services to repair, reuse or, recycle your glasses.
And with summer round the corner, you can also switch your lenses to transform old specs into a stylish set of new shades as part of the service.
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Affordable eyewear brand IOLLA has launched a new ‘Eco-Collection’ / Credit: IOLLA
On top of all of this, IOLLA is also encouraging customers to take advantage of its new recycling programme, so your old glasses can be reused responsibly and prevent any from reaching the landfill.
“We are delighted to launch our Eco-Collection and are committed to ensuring at least 25% of our range is eco-friendly by the end of the year,” said Stefan Hunter – founder and CEO at IOLLA.
“At IOLLA, we’re passionate about delivering an experience unlike any other, and that’s reflected in our unique flat-fee pricing structure, next-level customer service, and handcrafted designs – but our focus within product development now is to lead the way in developing stylish, sustainable eyewear and minimising our impact on the environment as much as possible.”
IOLLA opened its Manchester showroom on St Ann’s Square last summer / Credit: IOLLA
What makes IOLLA different to lots of other high street glasses labels is that it prides itself on keeping its pricing “simple and honest” by refusing to include any hidden costs or added extras.
All Eco-Collection prescription lenses and coatings are included within the standard £85 flat fee.
Man City to open latest Greater Manchester club shop at Trafford Centre
Danny Jones
Manchester City Football Club are set to open another brand-new store at the Trafford Centre, and just in time for Christmas.
With the festive period approaching, plenty of people will be looking to buy the latest shirts and merch of their beloved team, and with the Blues now a bigger brand than ever, they’ve put plenty of time into levelling up the club shop experience.
Their third in Greater Manchester, all told, it’s also set to be one of their largest to date.
Credit: The Manc Group
Although confirmation of the plans came back in October, City have officially announced themselves in the Trafford Centre this month.
With the hoardings going up over on Peel Avenue – the section of the huge mall arguably most well-known for its multi-storey John Lewis department store – they’ll be opening their doors just next to the branch of Waterstones.
In fact, you definitely can’t miss it because not only is there a giant MCFC badge plastered over the windows, but it also happens to be right next to the big Christmas tree.
This comes after sports and streetwear franchises like Gymshark and Urban Outfitters joined the North West tourist attraction, not to mention the massive Zara and Bershka sites that opened recently, as well as other global names like Pop Mart.
An idea of what the new Man City store in the Trafford Centre could look like, based on the Arndale shop. (Credit: The Manc)
Put simply, there’s been plenty of new arrivals this year, and there are several others to come.
Although we’ve not got an exact opening date just yet, the posters displayed across the window simply read “Coming November”, so Cityzens won’t have to wait long.
Furthermore, job vacancies for retail roles working within the upcoming location are already listed on the official Trafford Centre careers page.
Last but not least, there are scheduled be a number of other new openings in the shopping arcade, leisure and entertainment destination, so keep your eyes peeled on socials for more info soon.
Manchester Cathedral to be lit up with ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection this winter
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Cathedral is set to be lit up with ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection show this winter.
After captivating more than a million spectators globally and illuminating dozens of the world’s most extraordinary historic landmarks over the past couple of years, LUMINISCENCE is set to make its highly anticipated UK debut this winter – and Manchester Cathedral has been chosen as the lucky location for this dazzling event.
Combining 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special, visitors will be invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling.
LUMINISCENCE is set to pay tribute to Manchester’s rich cultural heritage through specially arranged orchestral renditions of iconic anthems – with the setlist including songs by Oasis, The Verve, Joy Division, and Elbow, just to name a few.
Manchester Cathedral is set to be lit up with a ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection this winter / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new script has been written for the show by BAFTA award winning writer Tim Whitnall, while narration will be provided by legendary local actor, Christopher Eccleston.
The show will be brought to life further by Manchester Collectives Gospel Choir, who’ll add a soaring choral dimension to what sounds set to be an already-powerful immersive experience.
Light from a battalion of high-power projectors becomes the storyteller inside the Cathedral, transforming the ancient architecture into a vast living canvas where every statue, carving, pillar, and stained-glass window comes to life.
LUMINISCENCE takes over Manchester Cathedral from Wednesday 14 January through to 26 March 2026, and audiences are encouraged to book early to avoid missing this unique experience as there’ll be strict capacity during the limited run.
Audiences can choose between Gold and Silver ticket tiers, offering options to suit every budget.
Gold tickets include fast-track entry and a glass of fizz on arrival, while Silver tickets for adults start from £29 (including a 10% booking fee), with concession prices available too.
Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 18 November, and you can book them here.
Emily Sergeant -
8th March 2023 
