Lockdown divided the nation into two categories: The outdoor explorers and the Netflix binge-watchers. And one local clothing brand is catering to both.
Lunar Thorn adventure apparel was launched in lockdown by Paige Rose – a Mancunian single mother who wanted to create eco-conscious adventure threads that doubled as loungewear.
Whilst Paige has been passionate about exploring for years, the first lockdown felt like the perfect time to get her concept off the ground – providing t-shirts and hoodies with wanderlust prints for people turning to nature for freedom.
“People started to explore the outdoors more, simply because they couldn’t do anything else,” says Paige.
“It was the release we all needed when confined to our homes.”
After becoming a new mum, Paige felt her entire life shift to focus on parenthood – and it changed her perspective on things.
“I was so focused on being the best mother I could be, I forgot what I liked to do,” she explains.
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“My entire purpose in life shifted to accommodate the bundle of joy that I’d made. And in that I felt that I lost some of my identity whilst also gaining a new one.”
As lockdown ebbed on, Paige found solace in nature and started using her daily hour of exercise to visit local parks and sights.
“The outdoors just has the most serene effect on a lost soul,” she mused.
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“It was exactly what I needed.”
Paige’s reignited passion for exploring led her to establish Lunar Thorn – which had been a dream of hers for years.
After lots of hard work, Manchester’s latest adventure apparel brand was officially launched – targeting a gap in the market for sustainable outdoor clothing that was comfortable enough for TV marathons.
“You can find adventure anywhere!” says Paige, encouraging everyone to get outside and experience the sights around them.
“Whether that be in the big city, a small town or even at home in your heart. It all starts with that spark and drive like it did for me.”
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Despite living on the outskirts of Manchester, Paige hasn’t let the city inhibit these experiences.
“Manchester has so many hidden gems – from the scenic routes along the canal to the bigger parks and even the country roads that link some of the towns.
“The possibilities of adventure in the borough are endless.”
Paige has always been fond of the outdoors – and some of her best childhood memories involve exploring.
“I grew up the eldest of 4 siblings on a council estate,” she says.
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“Although our mum worked hard for everything we had, we appreciated the smallest of things because we knew money was tight.
“The one thing we looked forward to wasn’t the material things but spending time with the family as a whole. Whether that be going to local parks, a walk down the canal or for a drive to the beach.”
Not only have these memories lasted a lifetime for Paige, but she is also keen to pass down these experiences to her son via Lunar Thorn.
The brand is also committed to giving back to the environment through its sustainable efforts – with products made entirely of organic or circulated cotton and produced in renewable plants/factories to minimise impact on the planet.
Lunar Thorn supports numerous charity events, too, including the One Tee 1kg campaign which helps to clear plastic waste from the ocean and the Buy One Get One Tree project, which co-operates with various tree planting organisations in Madagascar.
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It is these small acts of charity that are really making a difference.
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As for the future, Lunar Thorn is ambitious as ever. While the company will continue to create more products and collections, the main focus is to raise awareness for the brand and amazing causes it stands for.
“My final goal is creating something worth passing down to my son,” Paige states.
“And giving him the start in life I dreamed of when growing up!”
Their entire collection of adventure apparel is available to purchase on the Lunar Thorn website.
Style
There’s a studio in Manchester with welded jewellery and a build-your-own-necklace charm bar
Daisy Jackson
An independent jewellery studio in Manchester is tapping into the welded jewellery craze, offering customisable permanent bracelets, necklaces and loads more.
Aureli is the brainchild of Georgina Dunn, and as well as these increasingly popular welded pieces, is offering a charm bar where Mancs can build their own charm jewellery.
The studio is tucked away on Chapel Street, a stone’s throw from Manchester city centre.
Inside the space, you’ll find shelves full of different chains, from dainty links to chunkier rope styles, all available in gold, silver, rose gold or even mixed metal – you choose your poison.
These can then be cut to measure and welded to your person, either as a bracelet, an anklet, a ring or a hand chain.
You can add in tiny charms, like letters, birth stones, and symbols, for a piece of jewellery that’s truly unique to you and that will stay with you.
Terrified of commitment and getting a piece of jewellery literally welded to your body? No stress – Georgina can also add on tiny clasps so that you can take your treasure off whenever you like.
And for fans of chunkier, more statement pieces, you can also book a workshop in the Aureli charm bar.
Georgina fitting a welded braceletGeorgina Dunn, owner of AureliYou can have welded anklets tooAureli offers welded jewellery in ManchesterYou can customise your welded jewellery at the studio in ManchesterSome of the chains on offer at AureliThe charm bar at AureliThe beautiful Aureli studio in Manchester
Here, there are hundreds of playful charms to pick from, like enamel-coated colourful fruit, metal cowboy boots, cherubs, hearts, pearls, and LOADS more.
Georgina can then talk you through the process of hand-fixing each charm to your chosen piece of jewellery, whether you’ve gone for a chunky necklace, a bracelet, or a phone charm.
Georgina has a fashion background and says: “I always knew I wanted my own brand, I just didn’t feel like clothing was the right choice.
“I’d always made my own jewellery as a hobby and had a friend who’d seen permanent jewellery in Australia – so decided to bring that concept to Manchester.”
Two years ago, she started trading at The Makers Market around Greater Manchester, while still working full-time as a teacher.
Aureli absolutely took off, and she’s now appeared in Vogue magazine as well as at events for brands like Sephora and BPerfect.
Aureli is located on Chapel Street in Salford and you can find out more HERE.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra announce Manchester gig among just a handful of UK dates on European tour
Danny Jones
One of our favourite live acts we’ve ever seen is coming back to Manchester as Unknown Mortal Orchestra are set for a stunning return to the city – and at one of our most beloved venues, no less.
The New Zealand psychedelia-infused rock and indie outfit may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but the genre-bending outfit is comfortably up there with some of the best we’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in the flesh.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, in the States, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) is fronted by multi-instrumentalist and visionary experimentalist producer, Ruban Nielson, who first began the project on his own over a decade and a half ago.
Closer to a three-piece these days, you won’t find many bands that boast a collection of such varied and talented musicians, and they’re heading to Albert Hall.
As detailed by Albert Hall themselves, this show is also just one among a very small handful of dates here in the UK as part of their run of shows across Europe.
Other shows include one on the night following their Manchester gig over in Yorkshire, which our friends at The Sheff will no doubt be buzzing about, as well as on opening night at Barrowland in Glasgow ahead of a four-show residency in London.
Dubbing their work as nothing short of “psychedelic mastery” (we couldn’t agree more), the iconic live music space will be welcoming them early next year after landing on the mainland continent.
Other stops on the 2026 Unknown Mortal Orchestra European tour include Lithuania, Latvia and Poland; Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Paris.
Now consisting of Nielsen, bassist Jacob Portait, and often Ruban’s brother as well as fellow singer-songwriter, musician and engineer, Kody Neilson – also known for his work with The Mint Chicks, Opossom, Silicone and more – all of whom are as talented in the studio as they are on stage.
They also happen to have one of our favourite Tiny Desks of all time.
Sorry, but this HAS to be up in there in the top 10.
The London residency already looks to be in high demand, so you can bet their only date here in Manchester and at a venue like Albert Hall will sell out extremely fast.
As well as an entirely instrumental outing earlier this year, UMO also dropped their latest EP entitled CURSE back in June, and it’s fair to say it’s some of the most ‘out-there’ material to date.
If you haven’t listened to it yet and are just expecting more art-poppy indie bops like ‘Hunnybee’, you couldn’t be more wrong…
Unknown Mortal Orchestra play the Albert Hall in Manchester on Friday, 27 March, and you can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.
Daisy Bradbury -
30th April 2021 
