Two increasingly popular clothing brands, UN:IK and bound, are joining forces to bring a week-long celebration of independent business and indie fashion culture to Manchester with an exciting pop-up which opens this week.
From this Friday (27 October) until Saturday, 4 November, the UN:IK x bound hybrid pop-up shop will be open throughout the day in one of the city centre’s newest mini-districts and tourist traps Road, Circle Square over on Oxford Road.
Already home to various exciting and similarly thriving independent bars and restaurants, as well as growing gig venue Canvas, the area will soon play host to the new pop-up event where shoppers can check out lines from both burgeoning brands.
They can do all this whilst also enjoying complimentary treats not only from Manc favourite dessert spot, Gooey, but the likes of Allpress and Companio, as well as some cheeky free booze from Sly Dog Rum and another local fave, Shindigger. You had us at free.
The pop-up itself kicks off on Friday with an exclusive preview for friends, family and special guests from 4pm onwards, where there will be free coffee courtesy of Allpress and pastries from artisan bakery Companio, not to mention a few pizza slices from Nell’s.
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However, the week-long event as a whole promises plenty of freebies for everyone, as well as performances from resident NAM DJs such as Stell’s Selections, Mezrec’s and Didds; Neil Summers, Disco Stu, Enos, Shadev.
Once again, there will be a range of beverages (both alcoholic and soft ) served by Shindigger, Laid Bear, Intune CBD and Seven Brothers, and when the pop-up opens to the public on Saturday, customers can grab their free coffee and a famous Gooey cookie on the house. We’d go for that alone, to be honest.
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While the collaboration officially ends next Saturday, there’s plenty of time to stop by and make the most of the limited-time-only showcase and on Tuesday, 31 October, shoppers can enjoy a special Halloween-themed event taking place with Sly Dog Rum and Shindigger — and more cookie, of course.
The UN:IK and bound pop-up’s closing Party will take place on Friday, 3 November, which will be soundtracked by the local DJs mentioned above, along with the freebies we’ve already mentioned.
In the time between Friday and then, however, all visitors can get their hands on a free coffee at the very least, as well as a co-branded coffee bag by bound x Allpress available to purchase in-store.
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There will also be a special Mele x Club Bad release for UN:IK Clothing, as well as three new in-house brands on show at the store, not to mention an exclusive sale rail of existing lines.
It doesn’t stop there either; a range of different cuisines throughout the week is yet to be unveiled (we’d put our money on some tasty snacks from NAM since they’re already attached), as well as more local DJs supplying sounds and free gifts being handed out.
The pop-up will be open from 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am-4pm on Sunday, but the venue will still open later on the days of the special events. See you there.
Featured Image — UN:IK Clothing/Circle Square (via Instagram)/bound
Shopping
First look at Topshop in Manchester as beloved brand returns to British high streets
Daisy Jackson
Topshop is officially back on British high streets, and if you’re old enough to remember the struggle of contorting yourself into a pair of Joni jeans, you’re going to want to pay attention to this news…
The iconic fashion giant shut its stores back in 2021, leaving a huge hole in shopping centres across the nation.
But now Topshop and Topman are back in stores, with 32 new Topshop retail spaces and seven new Topman locations launching today.
Mancs will now be able to shop cult denim, statement jackets, and trend-driven wardrobe staples (just like the golden days of Topshop) at the Trafford Centre.
It’s all thanks to a new nationwide partnership with John Lewis, which will see a curated edit of around 130 styles available in-store across womenswear, menswear and footwear.
In store, that includes a full range of jeans (including those beloved Joni and Jamie jeans, plus more modern barrel-leg styles), graphic tees, knitwear, bomber jackets, and dresses.
There are Topshop retail spaces inside John Lewis at both the Trafford Centre and in Cheadle, but our closest Topman will be across in Leeds.
John Lewis has also become the exclusive UK physical retailer for Topshop footwear for SS26.
Inside Topshop at the Trafford Centre in ManchesterThe iconic Joni and Jamie jeans are back
Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said: “Today is about making it easier for customers to access the Topshop and Topman pieces they love.
“From our cult denim to new‐season footwear, you can see it, feel it and take it home the same day. Partnering with John Lewis brings Topshop back to high streets across the UK with the level of service our customers expect.”
Peter Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, added: “Topshop and Topman are brands with enormous cultural relevance, and their return to physical retail is something our customers are genuinely excited about.
“This partnership reflects our focus on bringing iconic names, strong style and compelling experiences into our stores.”
First Look: Matcha Made and The Trafford Centre makes for a perfect marriage
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s newest matcha spot just dropped, and we know it’s an easy pun, but it really does feel like a match made in heaven.
Just picture the scene: there’s a big birthday or holiday coming up, so you’ve arrived at The Trafford Centre early to get in a full day of shopping, eating and being generally leisurely – but you need an early caffeine fix and maybe some light, fluffy yet still filling pastry to keep you going.
There are very few places better to start this kind of day than at Matcha Made, who’ve just opened up in the North West’s massive and most famous shopping mall.
Fronted by a lovely lineup of smiling staff who couldn’t do enough for you and are more than happy to give you advice or simply plug their own recommendations, we can see ourselves coming back here for the service alone.
They’ve arrived in the big leisure complex just in time for February half-term, too, meaning any parents needing an alternative caffeine hit can fuel up right here.
Specialising in the Japanese and super healthy green tea craze that currently has the UK in a chokehold, only directly out of a tap – almost like a zen twist of draught beer taps – the art is not only in how green the raw matcha itself tastes but in the flavours and finishing touches.
This stylish pastel green hatch might not be the only place to get your matcha on in The Trafford Centre, but it might just be the best already.
It was immediately apparent that the staff had a clear favourite: the Biscoff foam version, but they said their simple but sweet and satisfying strawberry one has also proved to be one of the most popular.
There’s plenty of fruity options to choose from; they’ve got their own take on the fellow contemporary trend of banana pudding for anyone looking for a fix, and even ume plum, or you can just go for a straight-up coffee or hot chocolate as well.
So yeah, even if your partner isn’t quite ready to admit they’re a secret ‘matcha girlie’, then they can spend a little bit more time lying to themselves over this side of the menu.
Whether you want it topped with cream, shavings or a light dusting of cocoa powder, you can make this little drink just about as decorative as you like.
Besides being more reasonably priced than we were expecting, given the ongoing matcha boom, you’ve also got the big bonus of a fridge stocked with bakes from local favourite La Chouqette. Sold.
Danny Jones -
27th October 2023 
