As convenient as online shopping may be, you simply can’t beat the joy of browsing through shops in person.
Manchester is home to a colourful variety of adventurous clothing boutiques – many of which have reopened their doors again after yet another quarantine in November.
But with lockdown over and Christmas on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to discover some of the city’s hidden gems and hottest independent boutiques.
Shilpa and Julie, decided to abandon their 9-5 jobs in favour of promoting some fresh, underrated fashion brands – and the result is Kjole.
The owners have dedicated their lives to shopping so that their customers can have an effortless selection of iconic clothing – and their flagship store in Didsbury is home to a curated collection of unique, eclectic pieces you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Where to find them: 6 Albert Hill Street, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RF kjole.co.uk
This retro boutique is an absolute must-visit for any lovers of 70s and 80s menswear.
Boasting a brilliant name, Bags of Flavor also has an incredible selection of hand-picked garments in-store – specialising particularly in old-school sportswear.
Whether you’re looking for vintage Berghaus jackets or upcycled Burberry bags, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
This independent boutique is selling a variety of timeless pieces that you’ll love for years.
Unlike some other stores, Nood isn’t afraid to incorporate wild colours and bold patterns, whilst also sourcing from companies that uphold their eco values.
Owners are bringing something a little bit different to the sustainable fashion scene – with a loyal customer base since their opening in 2004.
Where to find them: 36 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EL nood.co.uk
This vintage and fancy-dress shop is one of Affleck’s hidden gems.
American Graffiti has a quirky and colourful collection of garments available; offering a variety of options whether you’re after an everyday outfit or dressing for an event.
The staff are also incredibly knowledgeable about the fashion of different eras and can help you recreate these styles from their extensive range.
This hub of pre-loved fashion is a go-to for anyone looking to inject some fun into their wardrobe.
From their crazy colours to retro designs, there is something for everyone amongst Lief’s selection of vintage pieces.
The store is also offering a swap shop every day during the build-up to Christmas, which is a great way to discover some new pieces whilst giving your old garments a second life.
This indie boutique was established by the eponymous Lucy in 2013 – who was eager to bring her fashion-forward visions to the people of Chorlton.
Today, the store now stocks a variety of stylish pieces that are different from what you’d usually see on the high street – from dresses and tops to loungewear and jumpsuits.
Where to find them: 109 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EQ lovelucyboutique.co.uk
Style
What people are wearing at Parklife 2025 – ruffles, leopard print, and not much else at all…
Daisy Jackson
Parklife is back, which means festival fashion is back, and Manchester has absolutely delivered on its outfit trends once again.
Every year in the fields of Heaton Park, tens of thousands of music-lovers flock to the biggest party of the year.
And Manchester loves an excuse to get dressed up, whether it’s donning a pair of hot pants, the latest trainers, or something as tiny as a bikini.
Gone are the days where people would just wear jeans to a festival – especially Parklife, which has always delivered a more rave-inspired outfit.
Of course, the inevitable plastic poncho has featured pretty heavily in this year’s Parklife wardrobes.
And we did spot one guy wearing an ankle tag as an accessory…
But here are five other outfits trends we spotted around Parklife this year.
Leopard print
Outfit trends at Parklife 2025 – leopard print
Whoever said leopard print is a neutral is my kinda person, and this is one outfit trend you cannot get away from at Parklife.
We spotted the same pair of sequinned leopard micro-shorts about 300 times on day one of the festival, as well as some other variations on the legendary animal print.
There were leopard print bikini tops, leopard print jeans, leopard print two-pieces and plenty more in between, and they all looked amazing.
Ruffle skirts and frilly shorts
Outfit trends at Parklife 2025 – ruffle skirts
Manchester got the memo – tiny ruffle skirts and frilly shorts are the ultimate festival outfit essential this year, if Parklife is anything to go by.
These have been absolutely everywhere, whether it’s lace-trimmed hot pants or pretty white tennis skirts.
Ideally paired with a little chain belt, we’ll be seeing a lot more ruffles and frills today I reckon.
Cowboy boots
Outfit trends at Parklife 2025 – cowboy boots
Mixed feeling about cowboy boots at a festival – on the one hand, they look absolutely 10/10 gorgeous stunning amazing chic cool.
But on the other hand THINK OF THE BLISTERS. What happened to a sensible wellington boot?!
We saw a lot of people walking around barefoot with their cowboy boots in hand by the end of night one, but at least they looked cute before then.
Sports shirts
Outfit trends at Parklife 2025 – football shirts
It looked like a day out at an American football game out there are Parklife – the trend for colourful, Varsity football shirts was all over the place.
The girls were out in bold red, green, pink and all sorts of other colours, matching their sports shirts with tiny shorts and boots.
Big fan of this one.
Crochet
A festival style as old as time, little crochet shrugs have been making a healthy comeback in the fields of Parklife in 2025.
As well as crochet cardigans we’ve spotted a lot of mini dresses and bikini tops too.
It’s taken over from the trend from a few years ago where everyone squeezed into a full-body fishnet suit and is a much more bohemian twist.
A local indie fashion brand is cleaning tired old trainers while handing out free shoes and ice cream
Danny Jones
A Manchester-based fashion brand is looking to give back to the community with a wholesome new initiative that will see a charitable trainer cleaning service swapped for a brand-new pair of shoes and free ice cream.
Nope, this is not a scam or some kind of prank, just a local indie label doing some lovely for the community and an important a crucial UK non-profit.
In case you’ve not come across the name before, we’re talking about rising sneaker makers KayKrepz, who are behind the increasingly popular model known as the ‘Kezy’, available in a select few colours.
Sneaker heads may have already spotted a select few pairs out on the streets of Manchester, where the designer’s story begins, but we have a very strong feeling you won’t get many other opportunities to get your hands on a pair of these for free.
The ‘Kezy’ in Earth GreenAnd in CreamA very fresh pair of creps, it has to be said – and who could say no to free shoes designed right here in Manchester? (Credit: Supplied)
Speaking to The Manc, creator Kezi told us that building a bit of a community and supporting the local area is just as important as growing the brand itself.
“I really wanted to have a shoe brand that people can afford to buy that are also still comfortable as well as look and feel nice, plus it’s a good way to gather unwanted items to give to Centrepoint.” We couldn’t agree more.
For anyone unfamiliar with Centrepoint, who have a big base here in Greater Manchester, they are a nationwide charity that combats rough sleeping and specialises in youth homelessness, in particular.
It goes without saying that collecting free articles of clothing is an integral part of their work.
So, with that in mind, Kezi and co will be holding ‘The Sweet Swap’, where those who attend can exchange their unwanted, old shoes for a free pair of KayKrepzAND a scoop of premium ice cream.
This is all in return for a free shoe cleaning service which will see those same trainers traded in, given some much-needed TLC, before being donated directly to Centrepoint. Love it.
We’ll back pretty much any small business trying to make it in our region, but it’s fair to say getting behind causes like these is especially easy.
Including the new ‘Butterscotch’ model, the Kezy shoe is usually priced at £69.99, making it arguably one of the most affordable high-end, top-quality trainers on the market at the moment.
Naturally, there will only be a limited number of pairs available and shoes handed in must be of a good enough quality to be passed on via the charity; KayKrepz’s Street Swap scheme will be operating on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.
Taking place on Sunday, 1 June at All Saints Park (M15 6BW). You can reserve your limited free tickets right now from the event page HERE.
Just make sure to leave your name and shoe size when signing up.
Daisy Bradbury -
8th December 2020 
