After the turbulent year of 2020, we don’t blame you if you’re ready to reinvent your style and feel happier within yourself for the year ahead.
But doing so can be a challenge in itself, especially with the shops being closed yet again due to the country’s third national lockdown.
But on the plus side, there are some hidden gems within Manchester’s fashion scene that are offering the hottest new styles to take on 2021.
It’s more important now than ever to support our local businesses, and these up-and-coming clothing boutiques are definitely ones to keep on your radar this year.
The Norah Store
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJn_DTvgVWa/
We’ll definitely be seeing more slow fashion and eco-conscious alternatives make their way to the forefront in 2021, and one of the brands pioneering this in Manchester is The Norah Store.
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The team at The Norah Store moved into a new studio space between Christmas and New Year, promising lots of exciting launches including a new collection that we can expect to see in March.
From whimsical patterned socks to elegant dresses, this boutique is Manchester’s one-stop-shop for all of the latest styles that will be lifelong treasures in your wardrobe.
With many retail venues closed, finding outfits to fit your rapidly growing toddlers and children can be harder than ever.
But Be Diddy is a Manchester-based brand transforming the idea of old, tired hand-me-downs by curating an adorable collection of vintage garments for babies. You’d never be able to guess that these clothes are pre-loved!
All of their items are incredibly cute and cosy, leaving your toddler on top of the trends in a pair of Carhartt dungarees or a vintage jacket.
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They also offer a buy-back scheme which is a great way to return garments that your children have outgrown and try out some of their latest pieces and styles.
Their first clothing drop of 2021 is on January 15, so make sure you stay tuned on their Instagram page for a chance to bag some of these adorable creations.
While their boisterous and quirky clothing was a massive hit in Manchester, this year will see Hoyden get a complete makeover.
After deciding to leave their Afflecks store in favour of a home studio and discontinuing the previous product range, it’s clear that the brand will be completely reinvented in 2021.
Olivia Denny, the creator of Hoyden, is promising bigger and better things for this funky feminist boutique, but we will have to keep an eye out during 2021 as her vision is still completely under wraps.
If you want to inject some simplicity and serenity into your home and wardrobe this year, look no further than Nordic Muse.
The brand has recently closed their doors and are moving into a new space on Tib Street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter – when the pandemic permits, that is.
This change in location is just one of many exciting things to come for Nordic Muse in 2021, so if you are in the market for some Scandi-inspired homeware or elegant jewellery, this is one to remember.
A splash of colour and brightness is definitely something we could use in our lives and wardrobes right now.
Jeneral Store is home to a decadent selection of vintage finds and handcrafted accessories in a cheerful colour palette that is perfect for the transition into spring (maybe it’s a bit early, but we’re certainly ready for some sunshine).
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After the difficult decision to close down their Depop and Asos Marketplace platforms due to their overwhelming popularity, Jen is now dedicated fully to growing the Jeneral Store website and creating some gorgeous items for our wardrobes.
If you’re like us and not ready to part with the scrunchies trend, this is an absolute must-see!
Style
Manchester United reportedly set to release first-ever fourth kit for 2026/27 season
Danny Jones
In what will be a club-first, it’s being claimed that Manchester United will be releasing a fourth kit for the 2026/27 campaign.
And no, we don’t mean a special one-off pre-match jersey or training shirt; this will be an additional alternative Man United strip to be worn in games next season.
With the current term set to conclude in just a couple of games’ time, and the Red Devils having now secured a return to the Champions League, they’re marking their comeback with their inaugural fourth kit – one for each of the competitions they will be playing in this year.
Football clubs often rotate between two or even three kits, but it’s not all that often that you see a side springing for another one.
💣💣💣 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Adidas to Release First-Ever Manchester United 4th Kit in 26-27: https://t.co/xDJa8inmPG
As broken by reliable football fashion source, Footy Headlines, while there isn’t much information around what the kit will look like, or even what the colour will be just yet, it is believed it will be a variation on the classic trio of red, white and black used for home shirts, shorts and socks.
Historically, most teams that have opted to take on an extra kit usually do so when competing in more tournaments than most terms – such as Manchester City in the most recent Club World Cup – for special anniversary matches, milestone derbies, cup-ties or some kind of limited-edition collaboration.
However, according to the online outlet, this fourth kit will be match-worn at some point in 2026/27, though we are yet to get a clear timeline.
Meanwhile, posters for the new MUFC home shirt are currently going up outside Old Trafford.
Footy Headlines state that the launch is expected in early next year, rather than for the start of 26/27, and many supporters are already speculating that it will be worn primarily for European/cup fixtures.
Shirts like these are always likely to become collectors’ items, and it goes without saying that, besides being a helpful rotation when it comes to potential kit clashes, this will no doubt serve as yet another money spinner for both them and Adidas.
United’s current deal with the German kit manufacturers runs until 2035, and if this proves to be a popular addition to their sportswear lineup and the ever-growing ‘casual culture’ among fans, we wouldn’t be surprised if you see even more fourth shirts coming out of Manchester in the future.
Speaking of footy kits, for those who haven’t seen it already, he’s a close-up look at the aforementioned Manchester United home strip for next season.
Featured Images — Matt Bloomfield (via Flickr)/The Manc Group
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The Manchester-born clothing brand being worn by some brilliant Northern sporting talents
Danny Jones
Back in 2020, HEX MCR burst onto the casualwear and sporting apparel scene and quickly became a cult favourite not just around Greater Manchester, but within the boxing and combat sports world as a whole.
They may have been away for a little while, but now under new ownership and hoping to venture even further out into the fashion industry than ever, they’re definitely ones to watch.
We wouldn’t quite call it a comeback fight, but they’re definitely starting to make a splash on their return to the scene.
Having been acquired by Craig Chiocci, a Wigan-based entrepreneur who owns a telecommunication company of the same name, 2026 looks set to be the year you’ll see more of their label out and about than ever – in fact, they’re already teaming up with some more British boxing talents once again.
Calvin Moyo wearing HEXThe worker bee insignia is never far away*Adds to basket*HEX hoodies have always been popularCredit: HEX MCR (supplied)
Continuing their trend of backing Northern fighters, in particular, they’ll be backing Doncaster-born boxer, Dave ‘The White Rhino’ Allen, for his hometown bout against top heavyweight, Filip Hrgović.
Allen, 34, will face off against the Croatian pugilist at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, 16 May – donning the latest HEX MCR gear ahead of the fight, of course.
It’s far from the first time their casualwear will have been worn by a well-known face, either; the Manc brand has also been represented by the likes of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star Luke Brassfield – who’ll be fighting at BKFC Birmingham on Saturday, 30 May – as well as plenty of boxers.
Joe Howarth, Kian Hamilton, Liam Carrigan, and many others have all pulled on their hats, hoodies, graphic t-shirts and more.
Crediting the original founders, Luke Powell and Andy Gibson – who started the company as a pandemic project in 2020 – Chiocci said: “They did a fantastic job getting HEX to where it is. It grabbed my attention as I was a consumer first, who simply appreciated the exceptional designs and premium quality.
“Manchester and the North West are a hive of activity at the moment, producing the best creative people who are developing fantastic brands and designs in the fashion industry. HEX is one of those brands that has the potential to truly make an impact.”
Craig has made it abundantly clear that he’s got big plans for the future of the already popular independent business moving forward.
For instance, as part of this revival, they’ve just released a new line of headwear to their clothing range, made more premium than ever and with each piece showcasing the ‘HEX Worker Bee’ logo design on the side panel as a nod to the Northern Quarter and the city’s industrial origins.
Speaking to The Manc, he went on to add: “This is just the start, Dave has been very helpful to us in supporting our growth and seeing our vision for HEX within the Boxing scene, we can’t wait to repay the favour in supporting him in his upcoming fight.
“We think he will surprise a lot of people and get the result. He’s in fantastic shape. We are a brand formed from the back streets of Manchester, and we feel that the brand is suited to fighters who have to show true grit and resilience.”
If you fancy adding their latest stuff to your fits, you can help support a rising local indie by checking out the full HEX MCR collection right HERE.
Their new Hybrid Sports HatActor Adam Thomas wearing HEX(L-R) Dave Allen, Craig Chiocci, Liam CarriganWill ‘Brasshammer’ Brassfield win in HEX this month?Credit: Supplied
Daisy Bradbury -
8th January 2021 
