Designer fashion shoots are expensive, and labour-intensive, and require huge crews and lots of models and make-up and stylists and other talented individuals.
Usually, you’ll see these campaigns being shot in big cities like London, Milan, New York, or inside state-of-the-art studio spaces.
So it’s been a pleasant surprise for many here in the north west this week when it emerged that Vivienne Westwood, one of the world’s most famous and prestigious brands, picked a tiny village up north to shoot their latest campaign.
The fashion house rocked up in Tintwistle, just on the outskirts of Greater Manchester, for its autumn-winter 2023/2024 collection.
The location near Glossop was chosen as it was the birthplace of iconic designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who sadly died late last year at the age of 81.
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This northern icon never forgot her roots in the Peak District, regularly revisiting her old school to inspire the next generation of Glossopians.
In the stunning photographs released this week, the Vivienne Westwood clothing collection is styled against various locations around the High Peak village – and fans and locals are absolutely loving it.
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Images from the latest Vivienne Westwood campaign, shot around Tintwistle. Credit: Vivienne Westwood
In one photo, a striking model in a short bridal dress poses in front of a football net in a field. In another, a grey-haired, grey-bearded model shows off a kilt against a pebble-dashed wall, with a row of terraced houses behind him.
Other backdrops include street signs, drain pipes, ginnels, allotments, playing fields, and all sorts of other scenes that will be very familiar to those of us who grew up here in the north west.
Commenting on the collection, one delighted local wrote: “So delighted you came to the village with this collection. Just perfectly surreal and wayward. Thank you xx.”
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Glossop Creates shared: “Take a look at this! Thanks to @FollowWestwood for showing the world where Vivienne’s creative journey began. So inspirational for our town!”
Another person said: “Wonderful to see our local area represented in the latest @FollowWestwood campaign, in memory of Vivienne. I’m sure we’ll have future designers at @LHS_HighSchool that will be inspired by this.”
And Thom Hetherington, a proud advocate for the area, tweeted: “How fabulous, the entire @FollowWestwood AW2334 campaign was shot right here in Glossopdale, in Vivienne’s home village of Tintwistle. I love that she never forgot her roots, and indeed is buried in the churchyard there. Great shoot!”
Andreas Kronthaler, Dame Vivienne’s widower, said: “It’s lovely being able to show and share where Vivienne is from.”
The campaign was photographed by Juergen Teller and its creative partner was Dovile Drizyte.
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 Jackson -
14th July 2023 
