On April 12, many of Manchester’s city centre venues will finally reopen to the public after weeks of closures.
It’s nice to finally have an end date in sight. But if it still feels too far away and you’re well and truly sick of staring at the same four walls, there’s a solution that can keep you satisfied in the meantime.
Wonderful Wallpapers is bringing the joys of the city to the comfort to your own home.
This Alkrington-based company produces a variety of murals featuring Manchester’s most iconic sites and locations that we’ve all missed during lockdown.
Whether you’re craving a stroll down Deansgate Locks, a visit to Central Library or even a quick pint at the Old Wellington pub, you can plonk yourself back into these surroundings by slapping the backdrops on your home wall.
There’s also Man United and Man City stadium wallpapers for those of you desperately waiting to attend the match.
The company stated: “Our aim here at Wonderful Wallpapers is to create the perfect wall mural for our customers, whether this is for your home creating a perfect space to relax in, or, for the workplace creating a harmonious and relaxing atmosphere.”
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You can also customise these with external stock images or your own high-resolution photos to create a personalised wallpaper of your own.
Wonderful Wallpapers is currently delivering anywhere in the world, so you can get your hands on these Manc-obsessed murals no matter how far you are from the rainy city.
Manchester’s Northern Quarter is getting ready to host Chanel’s ‘top secret’ fashion show
Daisy Jackson
When Chanel announced that it would host one of its most prestigious fashion shows in Manchester, speculation as to the exact location began instantly.
There were some pretty obvious options – Aviva Studios (formerly known as Factory International) was one. Depot Mayfield was another. Many floated the idea of it happening up on Castlefield Viaduct, or in one of our many museums or libraries.
What no one expected though, was that the world’s most luxurious fashion house would opt for the city’s Northern Quarter.
Not even inside a building in the Northern Quarter, either – slap bang in the middle of Thomas Street.
Over the last week, an enormous structure has been under construction that will provide a transparent temporary shelter from the elements.
Thomas Street will be closed for an entire month for the event and the construction around it, with the show itself taking place on 7 December.
The street will be the home of this year’s Chanel Métiers D’Art fashion show, which has previously taken place in settings like a pontoon moored in Shanghai’s Huangpu river and a lavish banquet setting in a Parisian palace.
Construction work on Thomas Street for the Chanel showThe ‘top-secret’ location of Chanel’s Manchester Metiers D’Art show is becoming less secretCredit: The Manc Group
Chanel always chooses cities that are linked to its history, then themes the show around that, so Manchester’s cotton trade history is likely to feature heavily.
So the formerly industrial Northern Quarter does make sense – just no one expected the most elite names in fashion to be traipsing in past Trof and the Sanae Thai Massage parlour. I wonder what Anna Wintour will make of Rambo’s Tattoo Parlour?
Historical, yes, but also, a little hilarious to those of us who spend our Friday nights staggering around that bit of town.
The MEN has also reported that a high-profile hotel has signed an NDA and prepared some serious security measures ahead of the arrival of Chanel’s famous invitees.
Chanel is hosting its next Métiers D’Art fashion show in Manchester. Credit: Courtesy of Chanel
Although the businesses along Thomas Street aren’t able to comment on the Chanel show in Manchester, ‘Metiers D’Art’ can be seen labelling boxes along the road now.
And the workers on site are pretty eager to share their project with everyone walking past too…
The Chanel Métiers D’Art 2023/2024 show is set to take place in Manchester on 7 December.
We’ll be waiting with baited breath for a glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence in Terrace, Timothee Chalamet grabbing lunch at This n That, or Kim Kardashian doing sambuca shots in Cane & Grain.
Manchester’s new vintage shop where designer labels cost less than £20
Daisy Jackson
A new vintage and pre-loved clothing store has opened in Manchester city centre, selling some seriously big labels for £20 or less.
Catch My Thrift isn’t all about the designer goods either, with plenty of high-street names like ASOS and Levi’s being sold alongside Burberry, Nike and Armani.
But if the item falls under the ‘fast fashion’ umbrella, founder Scott Joseph will donate the money from the sale to the Forever Manchester charity.
The shop has opened at Great Northern Warehouse on Deansgate (down towards Beetham Tower), with rails upon rails of flannel shirts, band tees, denim, sportswear and sweatshirts.
Catch My Thrift is promising to take the ‘musty’ out of vintage clothes, with gender-neutral items sold washed, ironed, and ready to wear.
For less than £20, you could be shopping for a classic Burberry shirt, a Kenzo sweatshirt, or a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
Scott, whose background is in luxury, high-end fashion, including Armani and Harvey Nichols, started buying vintage clothes for himself, selling on anything that wasn’t the right fit.
A Patagonia flannel shirt for only £16 at Catch My Thrift vintage shop in Manchester. Credit; The Manc GroupA wall of brightly-coloured vintage shirts at Catch My Thrift, Manchester. Credit; The Manc GroupA beer shirt at Catch My Thrift. Credit: The Manc Group
It didn’t take long for him to realise there was huge demand for ‘quality thrift’ – and the business has flourished.
With Catch My Thrift, he’s hoping to make this sustainable alternative to fast fashion more accessible to a wider audience.
The stock is replenished weekly with new garments on display at every visit.
You’ll find a wall of band t-shirts, featuring the likes of Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Def Leopard (as well as Doja Cat and Ariana Grande), in addition to cotton, denim and flannel shirts, jeans, corduroys, casual bottoms and sweatshirts.
Catch My Thrift vintage store in Manchester.Catch My Thrift vintage store in Manchester. Credit; The Manc Group
Scott’s chosen to price everything by category, rather than label, so designer brands rub shoulders with high street labels in the same price brackets.
Scott says: “Vintage and pre-loved clothing has a story to tell, and it’s a shame that they often end up in landfill. I wanted to create a platform that makes vintage wear more accessible to people, gives them the opportunity to express their own unique style without fear of imitation and at the same time, help the environment by reducing waste.”
He plans to host classes on up-cycling and capsule wardrobe planning in the space, plus a series of talks and roundtables.
Mark Schofield, centre director of Great Northern Warehouse, said: “Catch My Thrift is a great addition to our thriving community of independent businesses at Great Northern Warehouse.
“The pop-up store highlights the step-change in consumer purchasing behaviours, with Deansgate Terrace, now increasingly recognised as a hub for independent businesses offering a range of services including vintage clothing, coffees to go, and even tattoos, in addition to great restaurants and estate agents.
“We’re committed to supporting local businesses in the early stages and look forward to seeing Catch My Thrift grow and thrive on Deansgate.”
To celebrate its new home on Deansgate, Catch My Thrift will be hosting a weekend of partying across Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September from 1pm each day, with complimentary refreshments.
Daisy Bradbury -
26th February 2021 
