Some of Greater Manchester’s most iconic locations are set to be featured as part of a new “milestone” M&S campaign.
Mancs will soon be able to spot our city taking centre stage in a new TV advert.
This is because M&S has launched its brand-new autumn menswear campaign today, and well-known sites such as the iconic exterior of Salford Lads’ Club, the industrial arches of Castlefield, and plenty of other familiar haunts, form what is a pretty integral part of the marketing of it all.
Titled ‘Anything but Ordinary’, this is M&S’s first standalone menswear campaign since all the way back in 2015 – which is why the retailer is calling it a “significant milestone”.
As M&S puts it, the new campaign has been “captured against the vibrant city of Manchester”.
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Iconic Manchester locations take centre stage in new M&S fashion campaign / Credit: M&S
As well as the Greater Manchester streets featuring front and centre in all the new promotional material, including editorial imagery, influencer partnerships, coordinated website and social media channel takeovers, and more, the new video advert for the campaign is also soundtracked by one of the city’s most famous bands.
New Order’s 1981′ B-side track, ‘Ceremony’, can be heard blasting out as the models in the commercial make their way around Manchester.
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M&S says the new campaign has been launched as it continues on with its “style perception journey”, and the company hopes it will inspire customers with outfitting ideas and different ways to wear key pieces throughout the season.
According to the retailer, the new clothing collection apparently focuses on what are “easy-to-style” and “versatile” wardrobe staples, as well as “elevated” outerwear and “tonal dressing” too, that’s all underpinned by the “quality and innovation” that M&S is known and loved for.
M&S’s Clothing & Home Marketing Director, Anna Braithwaite, said the marketing team’s main goal with the campaign was to create something “visually arresting”, which is why Greater Manchester was chosen as the backdrop.
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Speaking as the campaign launched this week, Anna explained: To reach new, lapsed, and younger audiences, we knew we had to create something that would challenge the existing male perception of M&S and take it to where we know our audience is consuming content and most engaged.
“As a result, we have a campaign that’s bold, disruptive, and embodies the attitude and style of today’s menswear customer.”
Featured Image – M&S
Shopping
Major Canadian lifestyle brand Garage to open in Manchester Arndale AND Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
A major lifestyle and activewear brand, Garage, is finally coming to Manchester – and they’re not stopping at one store.
The Canadian fashion group will be opening two locations in the city, with one at Manchester Arndale and another opening at a later date at The Trafford Centre.
Montreal-born and loved by women globally for its off-duty essentials and active lifestyle pieces, Garage will be opening inside Manchester Arndale this summer.
It already has a whopping 231 stores across North America, making its UK debut down south just earlier this year.
And it’s expanding fast, thanks to its die-hard Gen Z following and monthly drops of new pieces.
Garage has recently celebrated 50 years of business, creating a huge range of activewear, swimwear, and elevated essentials that take you from barre to brunch to bar.
Garage will land at Manchester Arndale this July, with the Trafford Centre store opening later on this year.
Garage is heading to Manchester Arndale this July
Scott Linard, Portfolio Manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “We are delighted that GARAGE has selected Manchester Arndale for one of its first North West locations. Following recent openings, this addition further enhances our retail offer and complements our existing tenant mix.
“Our strategy remains focused on curating a strong lineup of best-in-class brands to meet the evolving demands of visitors from Manchester and beyond.”
Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “Bringing GARAGE to Manchester Arndale is a fantastic addition to our growing fashion line-up.
“The brand has built a strong reputation internationally, and we’re proud to be the destination chosen for its first store in the North West.”
Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video
Danny Jones
Manchester United’s new home kit for the 2026/27 campaign has reportedly been leaked online in a YouTuber’s unboxing video ahead of next season.
We know fake shirts and dupes can be pretty accurate these days, but it looks very much like this could be the real deal.
Shared by dedicated football kit reviewer, ‘Retro Man‘, who has seemingly revealed the latest Man United jersey, this unveiling lines up with the previously rumoured designs circulated on social media.
A Red Devil himself, the creator has teased previous releases that turned out to be true in the past, so we’ll leave it up to all of you to decide how bona fide you think this supposed home strip is. Ever-reliable footy fashion peers, Footy Headlines, have also shared these images:
Uploaded to the channel on 25 April, Retro Man did a full overview of the United 26/27 home shirt, highlighting key features such as a red-forward collar with black and white accents.
That same trim is repeated on the ends of the sleeves – reminiscent of the 2011/12 iteration, only differing in the more crew neck style – and the back of the neck now simply reads “UNITED”.
It is worth noting that this is specifically the replica shirt that most fans will purchase.
Should it prove to be the genuine article, this will be the 11th Manchester United kit by adidas since they returned as manufacturers over a decade ago, a.k.a. the start of the Louis van Gaal era.
Retro Man has since posted another video showing off what he claims to be the ‘authentic’ version, too; you can check it out in more detail down below.
Looks pretty legit…
As you can see, the official player edition that will be worn on the pitch by actual United squad members (though they are still available to purchase by the public) appears to hold some key distinctions.
Besides some differences around the panelling and stitching, there is also a noticeable textured section along large sections of the interwoven fabric as part of the brand’s breathable and trademark ‘Climacool’ technology.
Elsewhere, the badge itself also looks to have a more embossed/raised finish. If this is the real deal, what do you make of it?
This isn’t the only United kit that’s caught some attention of late, either:
Emily Sergeant -
13th October 2023 
