Manchester has always been a popular place for shoppers seeking top brands. But the city isalso home to small independent creatives making different choices in their clothing.
Sustainable fashion has gained popularity over recent years – with a trend known as ‘slow fashion’ emerging.
Like the name suggests, slow fashion is based on quality and durability, rather than rapidly producing on-trend garments that aren’t necessarily made to last.
Slow fashion brands aim to create clothing that will last for a lifetime in your wardrobe, but they are also kinder to the environment and factory workers in the process.
If you still consider Manchester as something of a fast fashion capital, it’s worth checking out these brands doing amazing work for sustainability in the city.
Phloem was established in 2019, after founders spent a summer travelling through Norway and Sweden while being immersed in nature.
The owners brought this newfound interest in the environment back to Manchester, establishing a fashion brand that is actively campaigning for change and remains dedicated to creating organic, sustainable and ethical garments.
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“It’s become increasingly urgent that something is done to try and tackle the environmental impact that our fashion industry currently has,” says Phloem.
“We have done everything we can to ensure that the production of our garments limits their impact on the environment, and each piece of clothing last for years to come.”
There’s a common misconception that slow fashion pieces are only to be worn on special occasions or important events, but Nemcee is combatting this with everyday clothing options.
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Nemcee is a slow, unisex brand that makes a variety of clothes to ‘go out and live your life in’, opting for timeless pieces that you will love regardless of the season.
Everything is made to order right here in Manchester, too – which limits waste.
Nemcee also strived to support the frontline during the pandemic, launching the ‘Do Good Project’ to assist with the shortage of scrubs available for NHS workers.
The Bee Thrive was created in response to what founders believe is a broken fashion industry – creating high quality garments made to last, without style being compromised.
The brand is radically transparent and determined to use the platform to enact change within the industry.
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“We are unapologetically political,” says the brand
“And [we] use our brand voice to support women’s rights, garment workers’ rights, environmental sustainability and climate restoration.”
Bee Thrive garments are tailored to the exact needs of the UK’s women, whether that is in the workplace or whilst working from home.
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Cult beauty brand P.Louise to open world-first megastore in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Viral make-up brand P.Louise has finally got the keys to P.Louise City, a world-first immersive beauty megastore in Manchester.
The brand-new destination for all things beauty will be launching an enormous retail space at Trafford Palazzo, spanning a whopping 19,000 sq ft and two floors.
The Manchester-born brand wants to combine shopping, entertainment, education, and community under one roof, hoping to recreate the magical feeling of ‘walking through the gates at a Disney park’.
The news of P.Louise City follows its retail reinvention with Boots stores across the UK, where they installed pink castle facades, giant gondolas, branded lorries, and loads more.
Now, the number-one-rated TikTok shop beauty brand is opening a world-first ‘beauty playground’, with immersive environments, interactive experiences, content creation opportunities, and education spaces.
P.Louise founder and CEO Paige Williams said: “We have had opportunities to go into retail before but I have always said we’d only do it if we could do it our way.
“Launching in Boots was a huge milestone for us because it brought P.Louise to the high street for the very first time, but P.Louise City takes that experience to another level. This isn’t just a store, it is our world brought to life.
“Everything we do is about creating memorable moments for our community and giving them bigger and better ways to connect with the brand they love, and that’s exactly what P.Louise City is all about.”
Leandra Dwyer, Asset Manager at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “The opening of P.Louise’s first permanent flagship store at Trafford Palazzo marks a significant milestone for the brand and a proud moment for our team.
“The bold and immersive retail concept set to launch at P. Louise’s city store aligns seamlessly with the core vision of Trafford Palazzo – to deliver an extraordinary blend of experiential shopping and entertainment at TraffordCity, the UK’s foremost retail and leisure destination.”
P.Louise City is set to open at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester next month.
Manchester United set to release two classic remake kits, including a ‘blackout’ shirt
Danny Jones
Manchester United are reportedly planning to release not just one, but another two classic remake kits, based on one of their most recognisable shirts of all time.
As many other teams have done for special anniversaries and limited edition strips, one of them is set to be a ‘blackout’ version of the iconic design, too.
Having already dropped a re-release of the 1990-92 ‘snowflake’ away kit this past April, along with various other bits of lifestyle/casualwear, the success of their retro range needs no explanation.
With that in mind, supporters who remember the initial Adidas era, football fashionistas and collectors alike will no doubt be clamouring to get their hands on either or both of these shirts.
The right-hand side is an educated prediction by the outlet. (Credit: Footy Headlines)
Based on the same adidas Originals template initially used for the 1986-88- home kit, according to the ever-reliable Footy Headlines, a similar faithful recreation is scheduled to go on sale later this year.
We’ve already heard rumblings of a Man United fourth kit expected to be added to their rotation for the upcoming campaign, but this is thought to be separate from the match-worn 2026/27 alternate.
As you can see, the rumoured ’86 remake by United will mark 30 years since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson first took charge of the club, before going on to spend the best of three decades there himself.
Featuring the traditional ‘adi trefoil’ logo and the famous Sharp Electronics sponsor on the front, as well as the sublimated old school pattern – just as seen with the aforementioned modern edition of the ’90-92 jersey – the second version will be exactly the same, only, you guessed it: all black.
With the INEOS ownership group clearly looking to double down on nostalgia and the improving mood around the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ now that they’re back in the Champions League, revenues already look to be on the rise.
Ruben Amorim famously turned this down – but not Michael Carrick…
The retro range has become just the latest of several new money spinners for the Red Devils as they look to get their finances back on track, as well as their performances on the pitch.
This summer transfer window is also now open, and with one deal already said to be done and at least a couple more in the pipeline, the income from merchandising will no doubt help to fund at least part of their various lots of these deals this year.
It isn’t just new players they have to pay for either, as it’s also costing them north of £1 million to returf the pitch inside the ground – and they still have the prospect of a new stadium to replace Old Trafford, let’s not forget.
Daisy Bradbury -
29th January 2021 
