Support independent artists as the Manchester Craft and Design Centre reopens
The Manchester Craft and Design Centre is reopening its doors every Friday and Saturday throughout August - othe perfect opportunity to support some local makers whilst also having a great day out in Manchester.
The Manchester Craft and Design Centre is reopening its doors every Friday and Saturday throughout August.
A Victorian fish and poultry market once-upon-a-time, the Northern Quarter venue is now home to an astounding craft centre filled with studios and shops – showcasing some of the region’s most talented makers.
Not only is everything crafted on site with a personalised and hands-on approach, but you can also meet the makers (at a social distance, of course), hearing about their processes and inspiration when creating each piece.
As the director, Kate Day, rightly put it, “there’s nothing quite like seeing handmade work in the flesh and meeting the talented individuals that have created it” – and this is the perfect opportunity to support some local makers whilst also having a great day out in Manchester.
Amy Wilkinson Jewellery – with its baroque-inspirations, Amy creates contemporary handmade necklaces, rings and earrings by creating intricate patterns and shapes with wire
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Charlotte Verity – these abstract pieces are all inspired by the presence and absence of light, combining precious metals, faceted stones and handmade glass elements in these gorgeous items
Clare Hillerby – Clare’s nostalgic pieces combine peoples’ old ephemera (often maps, stamps and postcards) with handmade elements to create deeply sentimental items
Colette Hazelwood Jewellery – working in a variety of silver, gold and platinum, Colette’s jewellery is perfect for anyone looking for something individual, and her clients can provide the inspiration behind it
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Divinity by Eve Redmond – Eve creates a variety of unique, abstract pieces, whether you’re looking for something dainty or making a statement, and her consumption by jewellery is clear as these items trace many details and events of her life
RA Designer Jewellery – the creator of the iconic ‘marry me ring’, Anne’s speciality is creating stunning engagement and wedding jewellery that is unique to each customer
Tracey Birchwood – combining jewellery with ceramics, this contemporary jewellery collection largely focuses on the natural world as an inspiration for its dainty pieces.
Cragg Jones Ceramics – Nicky and Sue have collaborated to create a collection of Scandinavian-esque pots, mugs, planters and other items that are both functional and lovely to look at
Katherine Lees Ceramics – these porcelain planters, vases and other ornaments are one of a kind, balancing her inspiration from the Victorian ‘cabinets of curiosity’ and love of animals
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Lee Page Hanson Ceramics – from crockery to vases and everything in between, these vibrant ceramic creations are largely inspired by 20th century modernism and geometric patterns
Linzi Ramsden Ceramics – inspired by Linzi’s repetitive folding of her baby’s clothes, her new collection ‘Origami’ contains delicate ceramic ornaments and wall art made from porcelain clay
Gemma Truman Glass – there is no absence of colour in these vibrant glass ornaments and gifts, a lot of which is inspired by Gemma’s love of nature and travel
Helen Tiffany Glass – Helen specialises in kiln formed glass, combining this with recycled and reclaimed materials to make simple yet effective glassware
Michelle Keeling Glass – initially inspired by climbing a glacier in New Zealand, Michelle has used metal leaf to replicate the patterns she experienced within the ice in her glass wall panels, accessories and ornaments
&made – Andrea Lord is creating a versatile range of gifts and home wares with a modern and fun twist, whether that is her adorable cactus pin cushions or bobble-hat tea cosies
Jane Blease – through her intricate and delicate embroidery, Jane is making elegant artwork, lighting and accessories that have a more contemporary feel to them
Laura Fray Bespoke – this selection of handmade bridal wear puts a unique spin on classic dresses, and is the perfect choice for something to wear on your special day
Fibre – by using an acrylic mix pouring technique, Jessica’s artwork perfectly captures the flow and movement of the sea. She also offers handmade embroidered cards and gifts perfect for any occasion
Fir + Wren at Holm – these illustrative designs are simplistic yet don’t fail to draw attention, and many have been translated into cards, cushions and brooches
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Ink Inc – the illustrative duo, Laura and Jess, are creating a range of cards and prints from their incredibly detailed ink illustrations, from quirky characters to more poignant pieces
Kaper – Kate’s paper sculptures are outstanding and incredibly intricate, recreating woodland scenes and birds by hand that are a perfect centrepiece for any occasion
Manchester United reportedly set to release first-ever fourth kit for 2026/27 season
Danny Jones
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.
💣💣💣 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Adidas to Release First-Ever Manchester United 4th Kit in 26-27: https://t.co/xDJa8inmPG
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.
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.
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
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 wearing HEXThe worker bee insignia is never far away*Adds to basket*HEX hoodies have always been popularCredit: 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.
Their new Hybrid Sports HatActor Adam Thomas wearing HEX(L-R) Dave Allen, Craig Chiocci, Liam CarriganWill ‘Brasshammer’ Brassfield win in HEX this month?Credit: Supplied
Daisy Bradbury -
18th August 2020 
