‘You are more than enough, and we are more than just clothing’
Kay Lou Klub doesn’t create ordinary clothes – they are clothes with courage.
Kay Haskins launched her Bolton-based brand to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health through empowering t-shirts and jumpers.
In an effort to encourage people to talk about their feelings and open up about mental health, Kay Lou Klub have created a selection of clothing that are liberating and filled with positive vibes.
From their ‘Flow Your Own Way’ sweatshirt that allows their customers to embrace their flaws, to the ‘Gratitude Attitude’ jumper that encourages you to appreciate the little things in life, each of their items is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I could never wrap my head round that as a society, there is this unwritten rule that we shouldn’t talk about our feelings, that our feelings are to be kept locked away and for only us to know”, says Kay, the brand’s creator.
A full-time photographer from Bolton, Kay Haskins has a passion for storytelling and promoting individuality. “I see clothing as one of the many beautiful ways to express yourself and tell your own story”, she says.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kay started to experience anxiety in her daily life in December 2019, causing her to experience severe panic attacks and fall out of love with yoga and other passions.
“I found myself cancelling plans, making excuses and even left a fitness event half way through because the whole thing became mentally and physically draining”, says Kay.
Although her recovery has not been an easy journey, this has been massively helped by journaling, working on breathing techniques and developing a healthy morning routine – all of which she hopes to impart on her audience.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was only when her niece, age 9 at the time, experienced a loss of confidence that Kay realised the effect mental health can have on everyone at even such a young age, and felt a duty to become part of the change.
“Going through that rubbish time earlier in the year made me realise that there are so many more people that are struggling that have no one (and it took me a while even with a pretty epic support network round me!) It suddenly wasn’t about me, it was about everyone else and others that I could help”
Kay recognised that many people with mental illnesses suffer in silence, and so decided to use combine her merchandising experience with her love of storytelling to create clothing that can make a difference.
Their newest release, which will be available from 2nd November, features the pandemic-inspired ‘the universe has got your back’ print. After a challenging and abnormal year, Kay Lou Klub are dedicating this launch to “all of the amazing people that have adapted, shifted, made it work, believed and haven’t given up.”
But Kay Lou Klub is much more than just a clothing brand – they’re entirely dedicated to helping people who suffer from mental illness. From their live yoga sessions and breathing workshops to inspirational blog posts, they are creating a nurturing and positive community for people who are struggling.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Kay Lou Klub is not a clothing brand. Kay Lou Klub is a way of life, a place to belong, a mindset, a culture, a place for self-development, a movement”
They also share a variety of resources and call centres that people can reach out to if they need additional help, as well as donating 10% of all sales to MQ, the mental health research charity.
Kay also appreciates her hometown of Bolton as playing an important role in this venture. “We always bounce back”, she says, “the pandemic may have made us distance 2 metres but has actually brought us closer together”
Kay Lou Klub is one to watch as they are continuing to grow their platform and tackle the stigma surrounding mental health head first. From yoga classes to wellness events, there are lots of exciting things that are in the works.
You can become part of the change and help advocate for mental health by taking a look at the Kay Lou Klub store, as well as following their Instagram for positive vibes and motivational quotes.
Style
Chanel fashion show in Manchester brought a staggering £8m boost to the city
Daisy Jackson
The total value of the massive Chanel fashion show in Manchester has been revealed, along with that the amount it cost in public money.
Early analysis of the global event, which saw Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter shut down and turned into a runway, suggests it generated a whopping £8m impact for the local economy.
And it’s estimated that the value it’s had for the city overall through national and international media coverage will be worth at least £100m.
Chanel’s Metiers d’Art fashion show was held earlier this month and had the city in a flurry of excitement, with celebrities spotted including Hugh Grant, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart.
They, along with names like Aitch, Bugzy Malone and Alexa Chung, were seen leaving fancy hotels and partying at venues like Salford Lad’s Club and Victoria Baths.
And now Marketing Manchester has valued the direct impact of the 600 Chanel guests and staff for the show to be worth £8m in direct income.
That includes staying in hotels for three to four days, spending in the local economy while they were here, and other expenditure like venue hire.
The Chanel show in Manchester is expected to attract even more investment, jobs and opportunities for Mancs too.
A main criticism of the show was how much it was costing the city to shut down one of its busiest streets for the week – the answer is nothing at all.
The council has confirmed that Chanel met all the associated costs, including cleaning, road closures, and recompensing the businesses affected by the event, with no cost to Manchester’s public purse.
In addition to that, 50 fashion students from Manchester Metropolitan University were invited to work backstage at the Chanel show, dressing models and supporting rehearsals.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “The Chanel event is one of the highlights in the global fashion calendar and the choice of Manchester as the host city received international acclaim.
“But for us it was never about the glitz and glamour – events such as this help cement Manchester’s reputation on a global stage and come with both direct benefits, through the money spent within our economy while they are here but also indirect benefits by showcasing the city and helping to capture investment, jobs, visitors and attention, all of which open up opportunities for Manchester residents and communities.”
Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “The scale of the impact of the Chanel Métiers d’art show in Manchester will be felt for years to come.
“The global media coverage of the event has put a spotlight on Manchester and its rich heritage in textiles and home of iconic music, which will drive conversations about the city and bring new visitors.
“The £8m economic impact is a welcome boost across accommodation, restaurants, and attractions, and demonstrates the importance of global events in the city.”
Sephora to open megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre next spring
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
The brand have shared an image of hoardings inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”