Nadine Merabi is a lavish label that’s been worn on red carpets across the world – but few people know of its Manchester origins.
The brand has become a staple of high-profile events – with Nadine Merabi dresses appearing at a huge range of ceremonies from the BAFTAs to the Cannes Film Festival.
This luxury womenswear has been worn by the likes of Jessie J, Mel B and Amanda Holden – yet its humble northern beginnings may just be the brand’s best-kept secret.
Nadine’s eponymous founder started small with her dressmaking.
She had an Argos sewing machine and some fabric from Abakhan in the Northern Quarter – but no formal training.
Nonetheless, these limited resources didn’t stop Nadine from pursuing her dream of building a fashion brand – as she poured her energy into learning how to design dresses from scratch.
Within weeks, Nadine had her own rail at a pop-up shop in Barton Arcade. But the big moment came when she sold her first ballgown. From here – the Merabi brand skyrocketed to popularity.
Nadine recognised that the luxury fashion industry had a major gap: comfort and confidence.
After years of attending dinners in ill-fitting, uninspiring dresses, she knew first-hand this was what the sector needed – and also where she could have the biggest impact.
“I am obsessive about design, quality and fit”, says Nadine.
“I believe in designs that flatter a woman’s shape.”
It is this individuality that makes the Merabi brand stand out to this day.
The founder is inundated with requests from friends and celebrities alike to make unique pieces tailored to them, and 10 years after the brand’s launch, Nadine still designs every item in the range herself.
“My fashion sense has always been bold and brave and that really comes through in the designs”, says Nadine, who draws inspiration from her British and Lebanese heritage.
“I, like my pieces, exude a calm, sophisticated confidence whilst making a statement.”
This sense of conviction remains at the forefront of her designs, as Nadine aims to create elegant, upmarket pieces.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone standing out in one of my designs and hearing how it made them feel,” adds Nadine.
Merabi is going all-out with glitz and glam this festive season, selling luxurious garments that’ll leave you Christmas party ready (even if it held over Zoom).
Many of their fabrics also have a fashion face-mask addition, proving that the pandemic doesn’t have to stop you being stylish.
View the Nadine Merabi luxury womenswear collection on their website.
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 -
20th November 2020 
