Style

Salford Uni graduate to open luxury womenswear store in the Trafford Centre

After years as a successful online retailer, Forever Unique will open its debut store in The Trafford Centre later this year.

Daisy Bradbury Daisy Bradbury - 26th February 2021
Forever Unique

The Trafford Centre is home to some the country’s most successful stores – and latest to join the ranks will be Forever Unique.

This stylish womenswear boutique began from humble origins in 2008 as an online venture but has rapidly gained popularity in the 13 years since.

The brand, which is headed by Salford graduate and Real Housewives of Cheshire star Seema Malhotra, will soon have a new home in the North West’s biggest shopping centre.

Forever Unique has signed for a unit near Selfridges, ready for April 12 when non-essential retail is permitted to open.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLr3vzYBNIV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

From growing up alongside her cousin who was always sketching dresses to constantly being surrounded by clothes, Seema always knew that she wanted to become a fashion designer.

ADVERTISEMENT

She studied BA Fashion and Design at the University of Salford and shortly afterwards met Sandeep Malhotra, who became both her husband and business partner in establishing Forever Unique.

Inspired by 1980s supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, Seema set out to reinvent this glamour for the women of today.

ADVERTISEMENT

Her luxury fashion brand aims to pave the way for more affordable designer fashion, offering an in-between of red carpets and the everyday.

Forever Unique’s collection ranges from elegant occasion clothing to everyday wardrobe staples, offering something for everyone.

Celebrities such as Amanda Holden and Ashley Roberts have been spotted donning some Forever Unique garments, with the local creations rapidly amassing popularity.

ADVERTISEMENT
Forever Unique
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKBWb4MHY3L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Forever Unique’s debut store will open in The Trafford Centre later this spring.

In the meantime, their entire collection can be shopped on the Forever Unique website.

Style

Manchester United reportedly set to release first-ever fourth kit for 2026/27 season

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man United releasing fourth kit for next season 2026/27

In what will be a club-first, it’s being claimed that Manchester United will be releasing a fourth kit for the 2026/27 campaign.

And no, we don’t mean a special one-off pre-match jersey or training shirt; this will be an additional alternative Man United strip to be worn in games next season.

With the current term set to conclude in just a couple of games’ time, and the Red Devils having now secured a return to the Champions League, they’re marking their comeback with their inaugural fourth kit – one for each of the competitions they will be playing in this year.

Football clubs often rotate between two or even three kits, but it’s not all that often that you see a side springing for another one.

As broken by reliable football fashion source, Footy Headlines, while there isn’t much information around what the kit will look like, or even what the colour will be just yet, it is believed it will be a variation on the classic trio of red, white and black used for home shirts, shorts and socks.

Historically, most teams that have opted to take on an extra kit usually do so when competing in more tournaments than most terms – such as Manchester City in the most recent Club World Cup – for special anniversary matches, milestone derbies, cup-ties or some kind of limited-edition collaboration.

Technically, Man United have had a fourth kit before, but it was only a digital one for the EA Sports FC games (formerly FIFA) back in 2017, and although it was available to purchase in real life, it was never donned on the pitch.

However, according to the online outlet, this fourth kit will be match-worn at some point in 2026/27, though we are yet to get a clear timeline.

Meanwhile, posters for the new MUFC home shirt are currently going up outside Old Trafford.

Footy Headlines state that the launch is expected in early next year, rather than for the start of 26/27, and many supporters are already speculating that it will be worn primarily for European/cup fixtures.

Shirts like these are always likely to become collectors’ items, and it goes without saying that, besides being a helpful rotation when it comes to potential kit clashes, this will no doubt serve as yet another money spinner for both them and Adidas.

United’s current deal with the German kit manufacturers runs until 2035, and if this proves to be a popular addition to their sportswear lineup and the ever-growing ‘casual culture’ among fans, we wouldn’t be surprised if you see even more fourth shirts coming out of Manchester in the future.

Speaking of footy kits, for those who haven’t seen it already, he’s a close-up look at the aforementioned Manchester United home strip for next season.

Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video
Footy Headlines has also shared the latest look at the ‘rumoured’ away and third kits HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Matt Bloomfield (via Flickr)/The Manc Group

Style

The Manchester-born clothing brand being worn by some brilliant Northern sporting talents

Danny Jones Danny Jones Hex MCR clothing brand Manchester casualwear

Back in 2020, HEX MCR burst onto the casualwear and sporting apparel scene and quickly became a cult favourite not just around Greater Manchester, but within the boxing and combat sports world as a whole.

They may have been away for a little while, but now under new ownership and hoping to venture even further out into the fashion industry than ever, they’re definitely ones to watch.

We wouldn’t quite call it a comeback fight, but they’re definitely starting to make a splash on their return to the scene.

Having been acquired by Craig Chiocci, a Wigan-based entrepreneur who owns a telecommunication company of the same name, 2026 looks set to be the year you’ll see more of their label out and about than ever – in fact, they’re already teaming up with some more British boxing talents once again.

calvin moyo
Calvin Moyo wearing HEX
hex mcr hats
The worker bee insignia is never far away
hex mcr tees
*Adds to basket*
hex mcr full collection
HEX hoodies have always been popular
Credit: HEX MCR (supplied)

Continuing their trend of backing Northern fighters, in particular, they’ll be backing Doncaster-born boxer, Dave ‘The White Rhino’ Allen, for his hometown bout against top heavyweight, Filip Hrgović.

Allen, 34, will face off against the Croatian pugilist at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday, 16 May – donning the latest HEX MCR gear ahead of the fight, of course.

It’s far from the first time their casualwear will have been worn by a well-known face, either; the Manc brand has also been represented by the likes of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star Luke Brassfield – who’ll be fighting at BKFC Birmingham on Saturday, 30 May – as well as plenty of boxers.

Joe Howarth, Kian Hamilton, Liam Carrigan, and many others have all pulled on their hats, hoodies, graphic t-shirts and more.

Crediting the original founders, Luke Powell and Andy Gibson – who started the company as a pandemic project in 2020 – Chiocci said: “They did a fantastic job getting HEX to where it is. It grabbed my attention as I was a consumer first, who simply appreciated the exceptional designs and premium quality.

“Manchester and the North West are a hive of activity at the moment, producing the best creative people who are developing fantastic brands and designs in the fashion industry. HEX is one of those brands that has the potential to truly make an impact.”

Craig has made it abundantly clear that he’s got big plans for the future of the already popular independent business moving forward.

For instance, as part of this revival, they’ve just released a new line of headwear to their clothing range, made more premium than ever and with each piece showcasing the ‘HEX Worker Bee’ logo design on the side panel as a nod to the Northern Quarter and the city’s industrial origins.

Speaking to The Manc, he went on to add: “This is just the start, Dave has been very helpful to us in supporting our growth and seeing our vision for HEX within the Boxing scene, we can’t wait to repay the favour in supporting him in his upcoming fight.

“We think he will surprise a lot of people and get the result. He’s in fantastic shape. We are a brand formed from the back streets of Manchester, and we feel that the brand is suited to fighters who have to show true grit and resilience.”

If you fancy adding their latest stuff to your fits, you can help support a rising local indie by checking out the full HEX MCR collection right HERE.

hex mcr hats
Their new Hybrid Sports Hat
celebs who wear hex mcr clothes
Actor Adam Thomas wearing HEX
boxers who wear hex mcr
(L-R) Dave Allen, Craig Chiocci, Liam Carrigan
luke brasshammer brassfield bkb fighter
Will ‘Brasshammer’ Brassfield win in HEX this month?
Credit: Supplied

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Hex MCR)

More Style

New Man United home kit 26/27

Shopping

Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video

Claire's closing down permanently

Business

Claire’s is closing down stores in the UK and Ireland with more than 1,300 jobs set to be lost

Uniqlo Manchester Market St

News

Hoardings spotted as Uniqlo prepares to open second Manchester store inside Trafford Centre

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches