High street fast fashion beast Primark has surprised its fans and haters this week by revealing plans to launch a new vintage clothing section.
The retailer, which is regularly chastised by slow fashion campaigners for its unethical methods of production, has made a move to be a bit more green by linking up with a local indie vintage clothing business.
Working alongside the Vintage Wholesale Company, which also runs the established vintage and second-hand clothing boutique Poorboy in Hull, Primark will launch two new vintage clothing sections at its Manchester and Birmingham stores under the brand name WornWell.
It means that, for the first time, Primark customers can shop a mix of branded and unbranded, pre-loved items in store and leave feeling that little bit better about their carbon footprint.
Image: Primark
Promising to stock a range of 70s, 80s and 90s trends, vintage fans can expect to see one-off denim jumpsuits and shirts, spaghetti tops, printed sweaters, puffa jackets and vibrant, patterned shirts within the new Wornwell sections.
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Brands-wise, those prepared to dig will uncover vintage pieces from Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Converse, Levi’s and Dr. Martens.
Riccardo Seaton, Director of WornWell by the Vintage Wholesale Company, said; “We are delighted to be opening WornWell by the Vintage Wholesale Company at Primark.
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“We take great pride in sourcing high-quality vintage clothing from around the world, and we’re excited to expand our business and offer once-off pieces of timeless fashion to customers in Birmingham and Manchester.
“Each item is unique. We want to inspire our customers to express their individuality and discover a love of vintage through wearing our clothes.”
Image: PRimark
Speaking on the new partnership, Jermaine Lapwood, Head of Innovation and Future Trends at Primark, added: “We’re very excited to open our first vintage concessions in Birmingham and Manchester. Vintage clothing has increased in popularity over the last few years, and we know that our customers love creating unique looks by mixing old fashion with new.
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“This concession will be the nostalgic bridge between generations, bringing curated retro fashion at great value.
“We want to see clothes loved for longer and kept in circulation – we’ve got big plans within our own business to give clothes a longer life, and we’re thrilled to be supporting an independent business who is working to do this.”
They’re aiming to tackle the pressures currently being put on temporary accommodation by turning long-term empty homes throughout the region into safe and secure housing for families who need it.
Temporary accommodation is described as being a ‘vital safety net’ for people who are facing or are at risk of homelessness, as it ensures they have somewhere safe to stay – but rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes, and escalating costs have left Councils, such as Greater Manchester‘s, increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often deemed unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
At the same time, thousands of long-term empty homes across Greater Manchester remain unused.
This is why, with new devolved powers, GMCA is now taking what it’s calling a ‘coordinated, region-wide approach’ to bring these empty homes back into use and pioneer long-term solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis.
Greater Manchester reveals its £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
New research has revealed that temporary accommodation usage across the region has nearly doubled since 2019, with 5,915 households now making use of it as of March 2025.
At the same time, it’s estimated that the region has around 12,700 homes which have been empty for six months or more.
So, the new £11.7 million package – which is funded by GMCA – will be used to refurbish or lease up to 400 properties and help Councils cut bills for ‘costly and unsuitable’ temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, or hotels.
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable. This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.”
Alongside this package, another £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support, and offer temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme is part of the work of Greater Manchester’s dedicated Housing First Unit, established to deliver the vision for ‘a healthy home for all’ by 2038.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Bolton man jailed for rape and ‘violent’ sexual assault of vulnerable woman
Emily Sergeant
A man who subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and then refused her medical help has been handed a lengthy jail sentence.
Kieran Naylor, of Bold Street in Bolton, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Courtyesterday (25 November) after being found guilty of two counts of rape, a section 18 assault, false imprisonment, and theft.
The offences took place around this time last year (9 and 10 December 2024), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained.
Naylor approached the victim at a nearby petrol station and invited her to his home, and once the pair were there, he became violent and sexually assaulted her. During the attack, the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken wrist and femur, which required multiple surgeries.
Despite the injuries the victim sustained during the attack, Naylor refused to call for medical assistance and instead locked her inside his property.
The 39-year-old later left the address, taking the victim’s bank card along with him and attempting to make purchases in Bolton town centre.
#JAILED | #Bolton man subjected a vulnerable woman to a violent sexual attack and refused her medical help has been jailed for 14 years pic.twitter.com/EXlCr0hHM7
The victim eventually managed to reach the doorway, where a member of the public found her and called emergency services.
Police arrived at the scene and arrested Naylor there and then.
Following the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Naylor has been jailed for 14 years – with the police describing him as a ‘dangerous individual’.
“This was a shocking and deeply disturbing crime,” explained Detective Constable Lucy Birch, from Bolton CID. “Naylor is a dangerous individual who is rightly behind bars for a long time.
“We know how difficult this has been for the victim and her family, and her bravery ensured justice was served.”
Sadly, the victim passed away before seeing Naylor face justice, but GMP says the evidence she provided ensured he received a ‘substantial’ sentence.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd August 2022 
