Even in the face of the pandemic, one Chorlton-based not-for-profit has continued to do its bit to improve the fashion industry, one stitch at a time.
Stitched Up’s sustainable clothing mission started in 2011 – as six women joined forces with the goal of encouraging individuality and sustainability through style.
Almost 10 years later, the organisation has proven that sustainable clothing is accessible for everyone – and there’s no need to compromise on style in the process.
Stitched Up offers a creative, environmentally-friendly alternative to chain retail stores, educating Manchester’s population about the pitfalls of the fast fashion industry.
This is achieved through their countless upcycling workshops, clothes swaps, and educational talks dedicated to people of all ages and abilities.
Stiched Up ordinarily offers workshops across Greater Manchester, but the pandemic has prompted the team to rethink their strategies and focus on their social platform.
Staff have been using their online space to host a variety of resources – from video tutorials on how to rework old clothing to petitions and campaigns for important movements within fashion.
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They have even started fundraising to create a sustainable sewing group for locals struggling with mental health and social isolation during the pandemic.
“This was very challenging for some of our participants because they’d never even heard of Zoom,” says Bryony, a member of the Stitched Up team.
“…they were suddenly taking part in a very different project than the one they signed up for.”
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Stitched Up has also passed on clothing repair expertise online through video tutorials that are released weekly – allowing people to upcycle their wardrobe from home.
“Each guide takes you step-by-step through a project from start to finish. Our subscribers pay £3 per month to access a new video every Friday.”
“It’s been really fun thinking up a new project every single week – luckily, we have no shortage of ideas!”
Sustainability is more important now than ever for the team at Stitched Up, as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disposable face masks and made ordering from fast fashion sites easier whilst charity shops have faced mass closures.
Manchester has always felt like a fitting home for the Stitched Up project – which has been welcomed with “open arms” into the area.
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“Generally, Mancunians have a really strong sense of style and individuality, as well as resilience and resourcefulness, and all of these things lend themselves really well to thinking more independently about fashion and what we wear.”
It appears that Manchester is at the forefront of sustainable fashion, but the use of digital platforms has also enabled Stitched Up to bring their missions to a wider audience.
“Our weekly video guides have enabled us to reach people from further afield than Manchester or even the UK,” says Bryony, “and we’re glad to have found a way to reach people online during the pandemic.”
However, nothing can quite replace the experience of face-to-face upcycling within Manchester.
“The social interaction with the people of Manchester is a hugely important part of what we do – so we can’t wait to get back to seeing people’s faces in real life!”
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Whilst the team are looking forward to normality returning and their in-person workshops resuming, there are also various new launches on the horizon for Stitched Up.
“Next month we’ll be launching some new kits with accompanying video tutorials to help you repair and rework your clothes at home and our reclaimed fabric store is going online.”
Sephora confirms opening date for new megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London, and its first trip up north.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
Hoardings have appeared inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding, around a unit next to AllSaints.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”
Manchester’s Club de Padel claps back at ’embarrassing’ copycat ASOS product
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester business has sarcastically pointed out the glaring similarities between a new t-shirt on ASOS and one of its own designs.
Club de Padel has a range of retro-inspired merch with UN:IK, a small independent streetwear brand also based here in Manchester.
Its collection of t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, hats and bags often feature a design of an illustrated padel ball (which to the untrained eye is basically a tennis ball) in motion.
But this week a t-shirt appeared on ASOS that also featured an illustrated padel ball in motion, just in a slightly different colour palette.
The ASOS version, which has now been removed from sale, also undercut Club de Padel’s price by £6.
Since Club de Padel took the ’embarrassing’ copycat product public on their Instagram page, ASOS has launched an investigation and taken it off their website.
The sports venture, based at Deansgate Square and the only padel club in Manchester, wrote: “Love the new designs ASOS, kinda reminds us of something though…
The ASOS t-shirt that Club de Padel has said copies their merch. Credit: ASOSClub de Padel’s t-shirt created by Manchester brand UN:IK. Credit: Club de Padel
“Ah. Well that’s embarrassing… We’ve got a new line coming soon with UN:IK Clothing you’re just gonna love ASOS.
“In the meantime we made this for you @asos, save your design team a job.”
An ASOS spokesperson said: “We take intellectual property issues very seriously and have removed this product from sale while we investigate further.”
Of the Club de Padel and UN:IK collaboration, aka the real deal, UN:IK says it has ‘served up a staple for us, retro inspired leisure pieces with Manchester’s first ever padel club’.
Club de Padel in Manchester has gone public to poke fun at ASOS
They wrote: “Inspired by owners after a trip to Spain, Club de Padel has hit the city with a wave and the lifestyle brand we have created with them reinforces the fastest growing sport across Europe.
“Our classic vintage washes and oversized fits, working with independent designs as always on this local independent partnership. Don’t be afraid to the sport, we’ll guarantee you love it as much as these clothes.”
Daisy Bradbury -
25th November 2020 
