The Britpop bands of the 90s have a lot to answer for. As the likes of Oasis, The Verve and Blur rose to the dizzying heights of fame, an entire style of dress was popularised alongside their music.
Impelled by the band’s casual fashion statements, fans in Manchester went ‘mad fer’ parkas, polos and retro Adidas jackets. And some still haven’t quite grown out of them.
But of course, it’s not the first time music has led such a fashion revolution. Music, culture and fashion have had a longstanding relationship.
From the mods and rockers subcultures of the 60s and 70s, to the emo and scene kids of the 00s, it’s always been about identity, expression and feeling inspired.
Starting out as a club residency, the brand is now committed to capturing the vibe around Manchester through streetwear – putting a contemporary twist on musically-influenced clothing.
Typical Gallagher fashion altus apparel t-shirt
Tom Horner, founder of altus tells us how his inspirations have shaped his designs.
“After what started out back in the day as a DJ residency at a club in West Yorkshire in my student days, Altus has always had firm roots in house and techno,” he said.
“Previous pieces that I’ve released have donned DJs that have inspired me, or lyrics from samples or tracks that are synonymous with those genres. My apparel will always give a little nod to house and techno in some way.”
“I go through stages where I’ll hammer disco sounds for a good month, then move in a completely different direction into something darker and more progressive. I think this comes across in some of the apparel I’ve released recently.
altus apparel fitsCanal view in Castlefield. Image: altus apparel
Tom is also a keen photographer and gathers plenty of inspiration from the industrial and gritty backdrop of Manchester itself.
“I’ve been doing a lot of street photography in and around Manchester, mainly around the canal in Castlefield where I live,” he said.
“The street art has been something that has definitely inspired some of my recent designs and I’m pretty sure that will continue into future drops.”
“My latest piece is a classic beanie hat. This is a very simple design and something that I think reflects my surroundings and recent inspiration from listening to a lot of minimal techno.
“Music is such a powerful way to communicate feelings and emotion. I think both industries have kind of gone back to basics. There’s nowhere to hide anymore. So, unless you’re doing something original or something that you’re passionate about, then it’s quite transparent.”
The altus beanie Image: altus apparel
To maintain the brand’s music-based values, Tom makes sure music remains at the heart of everything altus does.
He immerses altus in the scene by producing relevant playlists, promoting DJs and mixes, supporting events and gigs and sharing content on social media.
Meanwhile, he remains humble at the thought of people buying his designs and sharing his passions.
“I really hope that my interests and messages resonate with likeminded creatives,” he said.
“It’s a weirdly fulfilling feeling when someone buys a piece that you’ve designed. To say that someone holds similar values, or a common interest with you is one thing, but for someone to invest in a piece that I’ve created feels very special.
“Lockdown has given me the opportunity to realign and really focus on my designs and growing the brand. I’ve got a capsule of hoodies and new tees dropping before Christmas, and each piece is improving in terms of design and quality.”
To get your hands on some altus garms, head over to their website.
Style
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.
Hannah Starkie -
16th November 2020 
