After several years making waves on the online UK footwear scene, cult Manchester-based trainer brand Clints Inc has revealed it will open its first concept store in the city this weekend.
Loved by the IYKYK crowd for its thick-soled, hiking-inspired 90’s-style footwear, the first drop of its ‘TRL Footprints’ trainers sold out in the space of an hour – and the hype hasn’t really slowed down since.
Two years on and the brand is gearing up to open its flagship store in the city centre this weekend, giving fans a chance to see their shoes in hand for the first time before making a purchase.
Image: Clints
Image: Clints
The new store is housed over on Quay Street close to the ABC Building, and images teased online show a clean, minimal shop front with custom Clints details and a mysteriously-empty vending machine that’s piqued our interest. (A trainer vending machine would be pretty cool, just saying.)
Here, fans of the brand will soon be able to get their hands on all the latest Clints drops with access to new footwear, clothing and accessories including TRL Footprint-shaped keychains, stickers, socks and ‘half-tone’ beanies’.
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They’ll also find a range of graphic t-shirts and tracksuits, which feature heavily in the Clints’ apparel range.
Image: Clints
Image: Clints
It makes a change from the current online setup, where you need to register with an email and a password before being able to view the online Clints Inc store.
Founded by self-taught designer and university student Junior Clint, Clints Inc began selling limited-run pieces that flew out to its loyal cabal of fans.
Known for delivering retro-inspired sneakers and complementing apparel, its trainers have become a must-have for any self-respecting Manchester sneaker head.
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Characterised by rope laces, carbon textures with suede detailing and trademark alphabet ‘CLINTS’ pattern outsole, their aesthetic nods to the classic thick sole trends of the 90s which are currently having a resurgence.
The most memorable trainer drop has to be “The Sting” TRL Footprints, released in yellow and inspired by the Manchester worker bee – a symbol adopted by the city for hundreds of years.
This was then followed up by vests and all-black ‘Vantablack’ TRLs, released to celebrate the first anniversary of the initial drop. Clints has also since collaborated with Patta, with the two Black-owned independent brands joining up to work on the Stepper silhouette sneaker release.
Today, you’ll find all sorts – from vests and belts to Clints denim, jumpers, beanies, fleeces and coach jackets – and it seems like the brand is only going from strength to strength.
You can find the new Clints Inc concept store at 21-23 Quay St , M3 4AE. It opens on Saturday 13 August from 12pm.
Feature image – Clints Inc
News
The richest people in the North West have been revealed, featuring Harry Styles, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Gallaghers
Daisy Jackson
The Sunday Times Rich List has been published today, revealing the wealthiest person in the North West to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The annual list highlights the richest people in the UK, often filled with famous faces and business moguls.
This year, the 350 individuals on the list hold a combined wealth of £783.5 billion – that’s about a quarter of the UK’s total annual GDP.
The Sunday Times Rich List also highlighted other North West figures, such as Harry Styles, the Issa brothers, and Tyson Fury.
Other famous faces from elsewhere in the UK include Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
It found that Sir Jim Ratcliffe – chemicals magnate, Ineos CEO, and Manchester United shareholder – still tops the list regionally despite falling revenues and a £515.7 million loss.
Mohsin and Zuber Issa are fourth on the list of the wealthiest in the North West – the Blackburn billionaire brothers founded the EG Group petrol stations, and acquired the supermarket giant Asda.
Betfred brothers Fred and Peter Done come next, with an estimated net wealth of £3.6bn.
Property developer and Renaker founder (Renaker is behind the Deansgate Square towers) Daren Whitaker saw his wealth grow by £100m in a single year.
Elsewhere on the list are Liam and Noel Gallagher, making their Sunday Times Rich List debut at £375 million.
Michael and George Heaton, the British brothers behind the Represent streetwear brand, paid themselves minimum wage for a decade before selling a stake and making £18.5m each.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.
“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List — wherever they now live.
“These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances. Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax — if any — will Rachel Reeves’s Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?
“For nearly 40 years the Sunday Times Rich List has analysed the fortunes of Britain’s most affluent people. We believe understanding where wealth lies and where it is being accumulated is a vital part of a functioning democracy.
“Over the years our research has told us a lot about our country, charting the way a generation of largely self-made entrepreneurs overtook the old money of the landed gentry.
“This year’s edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items. We know many of our readers find those rags-to-riches stories of entrepreneurs who started out with little more than a laptop and an idea particularly inspiring.”
Man jailed for 10 years after raping ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman multiple times in Manchester city centre.
Benjamin Wilson, of Norwood Avenue in Chesterfield, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being found guilty of offences committed in Manchester city centre back in June 2022, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
The victim – who was described as being ‘extremely vulnerable and intoxicated’ – plucked up the courage to go on a night out with friends in Manchester, however she became separated from them and was later subjected to a serious sexual assault, which was linked to a suspected drink spiking.
During the evening, the victim – whose identity has been withheld – and her friend believed their drinks had been tampered with, and she later found herself alone, heavily intoxicated, and extremely vulnerable, before she came into contact with Wilson near a takeaway.
Wilson took advantage of the situation, guiding her into a taxi before repeatedly raping her at a flat in Manchester.
The following morning, he dropped her near the hotel where she had been due to stay with her friend, and she proceeded to report the incident to police shortly afterwards.
A man has been jailed for 10 years after raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre / Credit: GMP
From the outset, investigators said they faced ‘significant challenges’ – including limited early forensic opportunities and issues securing CCTV footage, all while needing to prioritise the victim’s wellbeing.
Hundreds of hours of work went into analysing witness accounts, financial and phone data, intelligence checks, and overcoming cross-force barriers leading to Wilson’s arrest in Derbyshire.
“The case was ultimately built through meticulous investigation, persistence, and, crucially, the strength and courage of the victim’s testimony,” GMP said.
Speaking following Wilson’s sentencing this week, DC Phillip Sargeant, of GMP’s Longsight CID, commented: “I am awestruck not only by the courage of the victim in coming forward, but also by her patience and resilience in waiting for justice.
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2022 
