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’.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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
‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2022 
