Chanel is going to be bringing one of its most prestigious fashion shows to Manchester later this year – which is a sentence you don’t read every day.
Arguably the world’s most famous fashion house has chosen our city to host its Métiers D’Art 2023/2024 show.
Taking place on 7 December, the exact location for Chanel’s Manchester show hasn’t yet been announced – but you can bet people are making some wild guesses already.
Manchester’s famed for a lot of things, from warehouse parties to street food events to huge gigs and festivals. But haute couture? Not so much.
Chanel will actually be the first major luxury house to show in Manchester.
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Previous settings for the Chanel Métiers D’Art fashion show have included a pontoon moored in Shanghai’s Huangpu river to a lavish banquet setting in a Parisian palace.
So wherever they choose in Manchester will need to be large, and dramatic, and representative of our city (the brand chooses cities that are linked to the history of Chanel, and then themes the show around them, so we can probably expect a nod to our cotton trade history).
The Yayoi Kasama exhibition for MIF23Castlefield Viaduct. Credit: NT Images and Paul HarrisAviva Studios and (right) Castlefield Viaduct could be contenders for the Chanel Manchester show
There’s also new spaces like Mayfield Park (though, chilly in December), Castlefield Viaduct (ditto) and New Century Hall.
People have been surprised and also a little baffled by Chanel’s decision to head to Manchester, saying it’s ‘hilarious’ and asking if Anna Wintour will be partying in the local clubs afterwards.
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Local design studio Mikesian Studio shared a few suggestions, ranging from Sacha’s Lord’s penthouse to the site of the demolished Toys ‘R’ Us.
They wrote: “So it looks like @chanelofficial will be hosting their Metiers D’Art show in Manchester this year. How wonderful. And hilarious. Very in keeping with the mood of the city right now. Life imitates D’art. Wonder if they’ll put the homeless in hotels this time?
“They don’t confirm the mysterious location till nearer the time, but with previous catwalks taking place on pontoons and in palaces, it begs the question, where in our humble city could be worthy of such an honour.
“Here is a definitive shortlist of suitable venues. We’re taking bets NOW. (Only joking @factory_international don’t get yr knickers in a twist, we all know it’s u hun).”
Someone else wrote: “OMG. The Chanel Métiers d’art show will take place in Manchester this year. I have visions of a runway down the Corrie cobblestones, flanked by a FROW of WAGs and a LOT of cotton in the collection. Let’s see if I’m proven correct. I could NOT be more excited for this.”
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Another joked: “If it’s a Chanel takeover of the Manchester Warehouse Project, I’m down.”
One person said: “Chanel Métiers d’art show is going to be in Manchester this year- I hope this means I’m going to find Anna Wintour at 5th ave afterwards.”
And someone tweeted: “Manchester has some iconic music too, ngl this is gonna be sick. The north deserves much more attention.”
Drama Call opening first-ever flagship shop in Manchester
Danny Jones
Streetwear superstars Drama Call are opening their new flagship store and first-ever permanent site in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Expect massive queues and lots turning up wearing the increasingly recognisable starry logo.
Already a much-loved brand not just here in 0161 but across the nation at large, the native independent business turned street-style favourites and UK fashion phenomenon are no strangers to HUGE pop-ups in their hometown.
However, they’ve never had a mainstay location anywhere in the country, let alone Greater Manchester – well, until now, that is…
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Debuting in the Northern Quarter this Sunday, the venue located on Tib Street will effectively serve as Drama Call‘s new HQ.
The local label has done everything from popping up vans with Manc rapper Aitch to collaborating with Man United for multiple limited edition collections, so it only felt like a matter of time before they’d make a big brick-and-mortar splash in our fair city.
Most notably, they’re also taking over the same unit as the Sheep Shop, a former skate shop and legendary urban clothing tastemaker of the 90s; they were one of the first places in Britain to stock famous names like Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt, The North Face and many more.
With that in mind, it feels only fitting that they carry on the trendsetting tradition from the same premises, and just spitting distance from the likes of Note, as well.
And that’s not all, either: before the full launch, they’ll also be holding an exclusive cash-only shirt swap event, where a limited number of certain collector’s items will be sold for as little as £10.
Other things to note are the additions of signed vinyls by homegrown artists such as the aforementioned Aitch and even The Smiths.
In fact, the store will also feature strictly Mancunian exclusives, too.
Everything from polo shirts and tees to branded mugs, matchboxes and other accessories will be available in-store only.
NQ is bound to be buzzing across launch weekend, with doors officially opening to the public on Sunday, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see people camping outside the front well ahead of time.
What a moment the Manc shopping scene is having right now.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Pear)
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Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video
Danny Jones
This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.
In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.
We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.
And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…
Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.
For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.
Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.
While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.
Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.
And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.
We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.
You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.
Daisy Jackson -
30th July 2023 
