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
Elbow get behind campaign to save Jodrell Bank from closure
Danny Jones
Manc band Elbow are among the latest to get behind the campaign to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from closing permanently.
The Greater Manchester natives famously played a sold-out gig at the important scientific and cultural landmark for a very special live album recording well over a decade ago, and know all too well the site’s national and, indeed, global heritage.
Choosing the Observatory and the rare chance to perform a show in the shadow of the world-renowned James Lovell Telescope, it probably remains one of their most significant standalone UK date ever.
With that in mind, the local lads have been left just as worried by the news of its impending closure as everyone else, and have therefore issued a fresh appeal to help keep it open.
Posting a timely statement on social media, the group wrote: “Jodrell Bank has long been close to elbow’s heart. In 2012, the band played beneath the Lovell Telescope for one of the most memorable shows in our history.
“The recent news that funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network is set to end in 2028 puts the future of the scientific work at Jodrell Bank under serious threat. It is a remarkable place, with an extraordinary history, and one that continues to play an important role in science, culture and education.”
In addition to reliving clips and images from the historic live set all the years later, they also pointed people towards their ‘elbow – Live at Jodrell Bank‘ album documentary, which has now been made available online for the very first time as part of wider efforts to raise awareness around the cause.
Directing people to key online resources shared by the institution and astrophysics centre itself following their unfortunate update late last month, the push to not only find the funding but sustain support for the facility continues to ramp up throughout the world of science, arts and industry.
For anyone who somehow missed the news – 2028 being the current deadline handed down as per budget cuts across the sector – concerned parties here in the North West and all over the country have since started petitioning to save Jodrell Bank Observatory from shutting down for good.
In addition to being described as a “huge blow” to the field by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), some have even gone so far as to describe the decision as a form of “vandalism” when it comes to research and British culture as a whole.
Having also served as the host venue for the annual bluedot Festival since 2016, the multi-genre science and arts celebration could soon be forced to find a new home.
The battle is far from over yet, and the community has time to rescue Jodrell Bank Observatory from its fate, but it will take lots of money and more notable public figures to make it happen.
Once again, you can do your bit by signing the petition mentioned above right HERE.
Featured Images — Emma Farrer (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group
News
All Greater Manchester boroughs to have 24-7 night buses from next month as new services launch
Emily Sergeant
Extra night buses, new routes, and more frequent bus services are being rolled out across the Bee Network at the end of this month.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy, and now plans to introduce these from September onwards have been confirmed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford will all get a 24-hour bus service by next month, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that once the new services have launched, it will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
Some of the other changes set to be introduced from next month include a selection of brand-new bus services, and more frequent buses during the day and at the weekends.
All Greater Manchester boroughs will have 24-7 night buses from next month / Credit: TfGM
There will also be better connections overall to key employment and leisure destinations like Manchester Airport, Trafford Centre, MediaCity, Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton, Kingsway Business Park, and Logistics North.
“The Bee Network belongs to the people of Greater Manchester and it needs to work for every community,” explained Mayor Bev Craig.
“As we build it, we’re listening and responding to what residents want with the biggest set of improvements we’ve ever made in one go.
🚌 More improvements are on the way across the #BeeNetwork.
36 service changes will benefit around 740,000 people across Greater Manchester, helping more communities access reliable, convenient public transport.
“We’re bringing night buses to every borough, launching new routes and ensuring buses run more often in the mornings, evenings and weekends. In doing so, we’re making it easier than ever for people to get around the city region by bus, but we’re also supporting our businesses, whose staff and customers need a reliable and safe way to reach them.
“Almost three quarters of a million people live within walking distance of a bus route we’re improving over the next few months, and we’ll continue improving connections for even more communities based on the feedback we get.”
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2022 
