Jameson Carter: The Manc streetwear brand that kept its cool in a pandemic
Not even a pandemic could slow down Jameson Carter. This Manc streetwear brand has flourished more than any other local clothing line in recent history.
The founders of Jameson Carter know how fast things can change.
In February, the three childhood friends were all over Manchester news trying to make sense of their rapid rise through the fashion world.
Local media had picked up on their incredible three-year story – which had seen their streetwear move from pokey bedroom surroundings into holiday homes on peak-time reality TV shows and adverts starring Premier League footballers.
At the turn of 2020, the name Jameson Carter was everywhere. The brand had gone from obscure to in-vogue in the blink of an eye.
But then came March. And with it, more sudden change.
News had surfaced that the virus moving into Britain was actually a pretty big deal, and within days the entire country took cover indoors.
Shops shuttered-up. Staff scooped up their belongings and hastily set up makeshift work stations at home. Business owners scrambled to readjust their service offerings and create new revenue streams to keep their heads above water.
It was a commotion the likes of which we’d never seen before. But through it all, Jameson Carter took inspiration from its own streetwear: It kept its cool.
As it turned out, this proved to be the best possible move.
The fashion brand, still fresh in everyone’s minds from all that promotion in February, began to enjoy an uptick in traffic as people stuck at home found more time to shop.
All of a sudden, Jameson Carter was enjoying more interest than ever before.
“Lockdown has gave us 100 percent growth online as people had more money to shop,” explains co-founder Craig.
“They couldn’t go out and spend it on a night out or in restaurants. They froze their mortgages and bills but many were still getting paid – so they had spare cash they didn’t have before.
“Lockdown played out to be a positive thing for us in the end.”
Sales boomed to the point where the brand was tipped to turn over millions by 2021.
Not many businesses enjoy that kind of success in a recession, but this lockdown prosperity is a demonstration of Jameson Carter’s habit of repeatedly defying expectations.
The odds were stacked against the brand right from the beginning – but they’ve continued to beat them ever since.
When Jameson Carter launched in 2017, for example, all the business had was £3,000 and a handful of caps in stock.
But opportunity knocked when co-founder Mike revealed his brother had been booked into ITV’s Love Island programme.
They convinced him to take a cap into the villa and wear it by the pool.
It was a stroke of genius.
The Jameson Carter name was subsequently seen by millions – and demand poured in.
It should have been a one-off, crazy flash-in-the-pan slice of good fortune. But somehow, Jameson Carter continued to find new ways to get their products out there.
Their clothing started appearing on other reality TV shows like The Only Way Is Essex, before deals were struck with Foot Asylum and JD Sports – which culminated in Wilfried Zaha donning the Jameson Carter threads for a Christmas advert.
A snowball effect ensued, and according to co-owner Craig there’s more exciting discussions taking place with other huge brands behind the scenes as we speak.
“We also are about to sign a deal for this month with a new potential big name,” he confirms.
“All will be revealed soon.”
The guys at Jameson Carter certainly know how to tap into popular culture and engage with the top brands.
But customers also keep coming back because these products ooze quality – whilst being sold with reasonable price tags attached.
Craig says the brand is committed to offering ‘affordable luxury’ – giving people the chance to get their hands on great-looking garments without buyer’s remorse or an empty bank account.
But out of all the words you could use to characterise Jameson Carter, Craig has cited ‘longevity’ as perhaps the most important.
Not only does ‘longevity’ describe the products; it’s a word that ties into the wider brand philosophy at Jameson Carter.
They’ve got ambitious plans to be a long-term player in the fashion world.
“We knew the long-term game was to make the brand cleaner and have a premium look using quality fabrics – but offering it to people for an affordable price,” says Craig.
“For the future, we plan on taking the brand to America and breaking into international countries.
“[We also want to] grow the women’s collection and break into footwear.”
Not even a pandemic could slow down Jameson Carter.
Just think what they might be able to achieve when the world opens back up again.
Learn more about Jameson Carter via their website.
You can get 20% off everything by entering the code JCMANC at the checkout.
Drama Call drop latest limited edition Manchester United collection
Danny Jones
Viral Manchester streetwear brand Drama Call has finally revealed its latest limited edition Man United collection, and it’s gone down an instant hit with fashionistas and football fans alike.
Better yet, they’re hosting a special pop-up store right outside Old Trafford, so expect massive queues.
Led by a special white jersey inspired by United‘s 1991 anniversary away shirt, the extremely anticipated release is the third they’ve done in tandem with the club, with the Manc company’s reputation having grown significantly over the years.
Now worn by stars such as Aitch, who models as the cover star of the campaign, these drops see hundreds, if not thousands, flock to get their hands on the casualwear – and this newest batch is set to be no different.
As you can see, while the new Drama Call x Man United collection would no doubt sell out online, the local label sticks to keeping the buzz with in-person pop-ups and often surprise locations in and around Greater Manchester.
In this instance, the usual crowds that surround the Drama Call van will be gathering right outside the official Manchester United Megastore for one day only this week.
Oh, and in case you didn’t already guess, it’s first-come, first-served and yes, you have to be very quick.
Besides the twist on the classic and already highly collectable kit design, the collection features a retro ’90s style track jacket, black pullover hoody, and two Drama Call stamped MUFC t-shirts – one black, one white and both with the iconic striped Adidas sleeves.
This isn’t the only big crossover they’ve unveiled in 2025, either, having teamed up with Adidas earlier this year for a very cool sneaker drop.
Big queues of 'sneakerheads' are expected in Manchester city centre tomorrow as a local fashion brand has teamed up with @adidasoriginals for a big collab. 👟
Once again, the Drama Call x Man United pop-up shop will be opening from 7pm this Thursday only and trust us, the stock won’t last for long.
There may be an opportunity to cop some clobber at a future date, but for now, this is your only opportunity for early access if you’re a big fan of their stuff or just a dyed-in-the-wool Red who fills their wardrobe with pretty much anything Man United.
We expect there’ll be a few going for that kit.
Limited edition footy shirts are all the rage at the moment, especially in the music world, but there’s also a rugby jersey that’s caught our eye recently.
Featured Images — Manchester United/Drama Call (press shots)
Style
Sale Sharks drop Haçienda-inspired away kit for the 2025/26 season
Danny Jones
Local rugby side Sale Sharks have just released their new away kit for the 2025/26 season, taking inspiration from Manchester’s legendary nightclub, The Haçienda.
The Greater Manchester club have a great run with Macron as their suppliers, with the Italian sportswear manufacturer coming on board in 2021, but this might be one of their best shirts yet.
After teasing the latest jersey with a ‘This is OUR NORTH’ trailer on Wednesday, 20 August, ahead of the Premiership Rugby season getting underway next month, supporters were excited to see what the pair had come up with for their latest design.
Turns out, they had every reason to be, as the 25/26 Sale Sharks kit has gone down as an instant hit, with the rich, almost wine coloured number integrating that iconic Haçienda pattern.
With Sharks men’s and women’s stars Carmen Castellucci, recent signing Nathan Jibulu, Nikita Prothero, Sam Dugdale, and Ernst van Rhyn all getting involved for the kit reveal, the new away shirt went on sale this Thursday morning (10 Aug).
Aside from the recognisable chevron pattern, which nods to the famous Mancunian music venue and the city’s storied clubbing scene, the launch video was filmed within a special exhibition in honour of the man behind The Haçienda and co-founder of Factory Records, the one and only Tony Wilson.
Plenty of tourists have visited the city to see the Tony Wilson Exhibition at the Smolensky Gallery – the showcase having just ended this past July – but this short shoot looks to help extend the celebrations of his legacy.
As for the kit itself, Sale Sharks and Macron have gone for another very Mancunian colour scheme, it would seem, choosing magenta and Bordeaux hues as a tribute to another one of our most famous creations: Vimto.
You’ve just got to love a kit with multiple hometown references.
It might not be full-on black and yellow (Man City already did that a couple of years ago), but it’s still an eye-catching pattern and colour combo.
Other little touches that will no doubt please fans include the embossed print depicting a shark fin at the bottom of the shirt and the date 1861 – the year the rugby union team was founded.
While plant-based ‘super food’ sponsor BOL takes pride of place in the front of the female jerseys, the men’s team remain with Toshiba, and the shirts themselves are made from Eco Fabric: 100% polyester derived from post-consumer recycled plastic.
So, what do you make of the new and very Manc away shirt, Sale Sharks fans? All we know is it’s been a great summer for kits all-round.
The Manc -
30th October 2020 
