Cheshire Oaks is set to host a day of free workshops teaching fashion fans how to upcycle their clothes ready for the summer.
With the fashion scene continuing to rapidly evolve, more and more people are now starting to see the benefits of upcycling their clothes and accessories, rather than constantly trying to keep up with fast-moving trend cycles – and this is why Cheshire Oaks is giving people the chance to learn how to “renew, recreate, repair, and restyle” at a pop-up event this weekend.
The Cheshire-based Designer Outlet is teaming up with actress and slow-fashion advocate, Kimberly Hart-Simpson, for the ‘Refresher Oaks‘ event on Saturday 22 April.
As the founder and owner of Hartwork – a clothing boutique that specialises in reworked items and vintage wear – when Kimberley is not starring on the small screen in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, and Celebs Go Dating, she spends her time educating people about sustainable fashion and is passionate about breathing new life into her customers’ existing wardrobes.
Cheshire Oaks to host a day of free fashion ‘upcycling’ workshops / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
“The speed that fashion and trends evolve these days is hard to keep up with, not just for our minds, but for the planet and for our bank balance too,” Kimberley admits.
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“I’m passionate about taking what you have and making it work for you, so that everything you buy is timeless and built to last, and so I’m very much looking forward to sharing my years of expertise and practice with the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet community”.
Four free fashion-focused workshops, each with a different sustainable theme, are all set to take place throughout the day.
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‘Refresher Oaks’ will teach you how to rework your wardrobe for summer / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Kicking off the day from 10:30am-12pm, Kimberly Hart-Simpson’s ‘Renew’ class will teach lifelong upcycling skills and show people how to rework an item of clothing into something they’ll love wearing again and again, all before little ones are invited to take part in the ‘Recreate’ class from 12:15-1:30pm.
This interactive class will not only teach kids about the benefits of upcycling, but also give them the chance to create their very-own personalised tote bags using recycled fabrics, paints, and embellishments.
The first workshop of the afternoon from 2-3pm will focus on learning how to ‘Repair’, with a seamstress sharing how to fix and adjust your own clothes with minimal effort, before the day will be rounded-out with the final workshop, ‘Restyle’, teaching how to turn old unworn clothes into fashionable cushions from 3:30-4:30pm.
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People are encouraged to bring along pieces from their own wardrobes to upcycle during the workshops, but Cheshire Oaks will also be on hand to provide items if not.
The Designer Outlet has partnered with Kimberley Hart-Simspon for the one-day event / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
“We believe that fashion should last a lifetime, not a season,” Cheshire Oaks’ General Manager, Kenny Murray, said ahead of this Saturday’s event.
“We know that visitors to McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks value high quality clothing and accessories from premium brands, which is why we are thrilled to partner with Kimberly Hart-Simpson to create the first-ever ‘Refresher Oaks’ campaign… [and] continue our commitment to creating unique experiences for our guests by giving the opportunity to breathe life into their unwanted clothes.”
Refresher Oaks is arriving at McArthur Glen Cheshire Oaks Design Outlet on Saturday 22 April, and you can find out more and sign up to workshops for free here.
Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks
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A dedicated anime, movie and gaming concert with a live orchestra is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Calling all self-proclaimed otakus, cinephiles and gamers: a huge concert experience will see dozens of musicians bring classic anime, film and gaming soundtracks and scores to life later this year, right here in Manchester.
The city is no stranger to events celebrating these beloved kinds of media, but you’ll struggle to find another bringing all of them together in one place.
Brought to us Mancs by KIN Music Entertainment, a locally founded arts, events and music label, this celebration of all things pop culture – and specifically, the music tied to it.
Entitled ‘The Kin & Fushigi Anime, Film & Videogame Orchestra’, this passionate collective serves as not only a platform for rising artists but also to hear some iconic sonic moments like never before.
KIN have created a large-scale live concert experience which will bring together a 25-piece pop orchestra made up of emerging professional performers and conservatoire graduates.
Aside from the impressive total of people behind this production to begin with, they also form an immersive hybrid orchestral and live band capable of bringing.
Speaking on the upcoming date, KIN Entertainment said in a statement: “We wanted to create the kind of live experience that many anime and videogame fans in Manchester have been waiting for — something cinematic, emotional and community-driven that brings these sound worlds to life with the energy of both an orchestra and a live band.”
Kin was founded by bassist, composer and ensemble performer Alejandro Urbina Diaz, who first brought his talents and wider interests over from Mexico to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) here in the city centre at the age of 23.
Citing Manchester’s multiculturalism and cosmopolitan cultural fabric as a big part of his inspiration, he and his team have ended up carving out this niche for themselves, and now they’ll be playing this beloved music to Mancs at none other than the O2 Ritz.
Credit: KIN Music Entertainment (supplied via Academy Music Group Digital)
With new arrangements inspired by anime, cinematic and videogame culture, not to mention orchestral and even rock crossover twists – including both vocalist and rhythm sections, by the way – it’s set to be a highly unique experience that most will have never come across before.
This event itself is suitable for audiences aged 14+, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s taking place at the Ritz on Sunday, 26 July.
We’re not going to spoil any more details about the show for you, so which particular pieces of pop culture they reference will just have to be a surprise…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AMG Digital)
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You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Manchester’s Deansgate
Daisy Jackson
There’s a brand-new menu of smokehouse-style BBQ dishes being served up on a sunny terrace on Deansgate.
Motley, the neighbourhood bar and restaurant on the corner of John Dalton Street, has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen.
That means they’ve got a whole load of new dishes, slow-cooked over hickory wood, that are bringing a taste of a Deep South BBQ to Manchester city centre.
The smokehouse-style meats are all seasoned in-house and cooked for hours, for a perfect fall-off-the-bone experience.
It might be an authentic American smokehouse menu, but it’s firmly British too, with most products locally sourced.
You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Deansgate / Credit: The Manc Group
Motley are calling on local suppliers like Althams Butchers (established since 1856) for their meat, plus greengrocers R Noone and Son, and Cheshire Farm for their real dairy ice cream.
Signature dishes on the new menu at Motley include slow smoked brisket, seasoned in Motley’s signature rub before being slow-smoked for more than eight hours.
There’s also a beef short rib with a chimichurri sauce, and a pork belly strip that’s seasoned with sage and onion and finished with a panko breadcrumb crust.
And for the veggies, there’s a vegan smoked veg kebab with courgette, mushrooms, bell pepper, sweet corn and red onion drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce.
Motley has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen / Credit: The Manc Group
Prices across the board start from just £16, served with beef dripping fries, rainbow slaw, pickles and homemade beef gravy.
As for small plates, you can expect short rib bonbons, homemade corn bread, spicy chicken wings, bang bang cauliflower, mac and cheese, and frickles.
House favourites like steak, vegetable hash, salads, and burgers will remain on the Motley menu.
Victor Gonzalez, food and beverage manager at Motley, said: “Our new signature smoked dishes are all crafted and seasoned in-house then slow cooked for hours over hickory wood to create rich and smoky melt-in-your mouth flavours.
“From our slow-smoked brisket to our home-made sides, everything has been carefully crafted to bring an authentic taste of the deep south to Manchester and we can’t wait for guests to try it.”
Motley can be found at 2 John Dalton Street on the corner of Deansgate in the city centre.
Emily Sergeant -
20th April 2023 
