UK supermarket ASDA and its in-house clothing brand, George, are being praised for their affordable new ‘adaptive’ clothing range, which could prove revolutionary for countless Brits.
The new 28-piece collection is aimed at people with additional and complex needs, providing comfortable and carefully designed clothes to suit disabled individuals.
Announced on Monday, 8 September, the new accessibility-driven line of fashion is set to be made available to order online next week.
Speaking via an official press release, qualified medical professional Sarah Phillips (who has been directly involved in the initial adaptive trial herself) has dubbed the upcoming range as nothing short of “a game-changer.”
Phillips, who lives with a neuromuscular disease that requires a feeding tube, catheter, and extensive scans, says ASDA’s adaptive range is “not just designed for people who need it – it’s designed by people who need it, and that’s what sets it apart.”
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Noting that the impressive amount of first-hand knowledge pulled from those living with various disabilities is what makes “it far better than anything else available” on the market right now, the revolutionary adaptive range is crucially costed up at a price point in keeping with ASDA‘s values.
For example, the cheapest item starts at just £11 and the most expensive is still only £24.
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Most importantly, all of the designs include key features to create as much ease in the wearer’s life as possible, such as hospital-friendly plastic zips, openings for feeding tubes, discreet pockets for stoma bags and more.
This comes after Alex Newman – the husband of late breast cancer campaigner, Nicky Newman, whose story inspired this particular adaptive range – said that struggling to get in and out of clothes was not only a frustrating part of her battle, but that she “found it undignified”.
“She looked for adapted clothing she could wear”, he adds, “but there wasn’t much choice. She bought a jumper from one brand and, while it really helped her, it cost £90 – a huge expense at a time when our finances were already impacted by her leaving her job due to the effects of cancer on her health.”
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Nicky sadly passed away on 17 September 2023.
Karl Doyle, Vice President of George Clothing, said in an official statement:“We have worked closely with Nicky, Alex and their network of friends to create this bold adaptive range that we hope has fulfilled Nicky’s wishes.
“We have taken time and passion to really understand the specific needs of each item produced – how we can make them more comfortable, fashionable, affordable and dignified. Today is such a proud moment to see the range launch; we hope it’ll benefit many more people with specific treatment needs.”
The entire ASDA adaptive clothing range drops online-only in full on Monday, 15 September; for now, you can see the full list of all 28 items, find out more information on each, and read more touching tributes about Nicky and the journey behind this disability-friendly clothing revolution HERE.
Congratulations to everyone involved with this inspirational and heartwarming project – you’ve done yourselves, Nicky and countless people living with disabilities SO proud.
Aldi on Market Street is officially open again, with a major upgrade
Daisy Jackson
Good news for literally everyone in the city centre – Aldi on Market Street is BACK after a major upgrade.
The supermarket in the Manchester Arndale has been closed for what feels like an eternity (okay, three weeks) while it was given a refurbishment as part of Aldi’s Enhanced Project Fresh initiative.
The closure had left some shoppers less than impressed, with locals previously taking to social media to say it had ‘ruined my f***in day‘.
But after weeks of waiting, the Market Street branch is now back open, and Aldi says there are plenty of changes for shoppers to discover.
The revamped store has been given a new floor layout, upgraded refrigeration and repositioned departments, all designed to make navigating the shop a little easier.
Having popped in this morning, we can confirm that the aisles feel significantly less claustrophobic than they did previously.
One of the biggest additions is a brand-new in-store bakery, alongside expanded chillers and an enhanced fresh produce section.
Buzzball BiggiesThe new Aldi bakery on Market StreetAnd magnums of Aldi’s own chicken wineLoads of new self checkoutsThe aisles feel much wider and calmer in the new Aldi Market Street
There’s also a larger food-to-go chiller, while the freezer section has been redesigned with easy-to-browse freezers.
And for anyone who has ever found themselves trapped in a city-centre supermarket queue, Aldi has also introduced an improved queuing system for its self-checkouts, with the changes intended to ease congestion during the busiest periods.
Store Manager Mark Strickland said: “We thank our customers for being patient during this period of closure and we hope the improvements we’ve made to the store create a noticeably better experience for our shoppers.
“The new floor, upgraded refrigeration, and repositioned departments now make shopping at Aldi Arndale easier and more comfortable than ever.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming back familiar faces and new customers to showcase what we’ve achieved.”
The makeover forms part of Aldi’s wider investment programme across its stores, including the rollout of updated CO₂ refrigeration systems.
According to Aldi, the carbon reduction from the completed programme will be equivalent to the amount of energy used to heat more than 6,500 homes.
So, while Mancs might have had to survive without their Market Street Aldi for a little while, there’s now a shiny new reason to head back into the Arndale.
Berghaus’ first North West standalone store arrives in Manchester Arndale
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Berghaus has chosen our very own Manchester Arndale to be the home of its first standalone brand store location in the North West.
This brand new 2,750 sq ft retail space has joined a wave of recent arrivals at the Arndale including Arc’teryx, Alo Yoga, Pro:Direct, GARAGE and Represent, further equipping you for all of your fashion, sportswear, and lifestyle retails needs.
This iconic British outdoor clothing and equipment brand was founded in 1966, by a pair of mountaineers, Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison, who have always led with the view that ‘the outdoors belongs to everyone.’
This belief is reflected through the design of pieces with practicality in mind, encouraging us all to spend a little less time glued to our screens and a little more outside in nature.
Berghaus is widely known for its trusty cutting edge technologies, making it popular with athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, with the clothing aiming to accommodate exploration of the world and all of the wonderful and wild weather conditions it offers.
With this said, in recent years Berghaus has also gained a cult following of young consumers, seeking fashionable items, in the light of the gorp-core and athleisure craze – it turns out you can explore and look good doing it.
As Franck Denglos, EMEA President, Pentland Brands, commented: “60 years after Berghaus was founded in the North of England, opening our first standalone in the North West feels like a natural homecoming.
The beautiful new Berghaus store in Manchester ArndaleBerghaus is the latest addition to Manchester ArndaleYou can pick up technical gear and gorp-core fashionThe store has loads of amazing displaysTechnical gear includes climbing kitThere’s even Berghaus for dogs
“As a bold, outdoor and British brand, we’re excited to put down roots in Manchester and connect with consumers in one of the UK’s most vibrant retail destinations. Manchester Arndale’s scale, energy and reach make it the perfect stage for the next chapter of the Berghaus story.”
Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “Berghaus joining Manchester Arndale is a clear example of how leading retailers are responding to evolving consumer trends and investing in standout physical retail destinations.
“The brand is a fantastic addition to our lineup and further enhances the scheme’s appeal to Gen Z consumers who are driving the popularity of gorpcore and outdoor-inspired fashion.”
Moreover, Scott Linard, Portfolio Manager for M&G Real Estate, added: “Securing Berghaus for its first standalone store in the North West is another major endorsement of Manchester Arndale and the strength of our retail offer.
“The brand’s decision to open its first brand store UK location here reflects the confidence major retailers have in the destination and the continued demand we’re seeing for premium outdoor and sportswear brands.”
What a win for Manchester.
If you’ve been waiting for the right excuse to finally commit to that hike or camping trip this summer – here it is.
Get yourself kitted out and get outdoors – it’s time to touch some grass.
Danny Jones -
9th September 2025 
