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.
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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.
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“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.”
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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
Drama Call opening first-ever flagship shop in Manchester
Danny Jones
Streetwear superstars Drama Call are opening their new flagship store and first-ever permanent site in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Expect massive queues and lots turning up wearing the increasingly recognisable starry logo.
Already a much-loved brand not just here in 0161 but across the nation at large, the native independent business turned street-style favourites and UK fashion phenomenon are no strangers to HUGE pop-ups in their hometown.
However, they’ve never had a mainstay location anywhere in the country, let alone Greater Manchester – well, until now, that is…
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Debuting in the Northern Quarter this Sunday, the venue located on Tib Street will effectively serve as Drama Call‘s new HQ.
The local label has done everything from popping up vans with Manc rapper Aitch to collaborating with Man United for multiple limited edition collections, so it only felt like a matter of time before they’d make a big brick-and-mortar splash in our fair city.
Most notably, they’re also taking over the same unit as the Sheep Shop, a former skate shop and legendary urban clothing tastemaker of the 90s; they were one of the first places in Britain to stock famous names like Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt, The North Face and many more.
With that in mind, it feels only fitting that they carry on the trendsetting tradition from the same premises, and just spitting distance from the likes of Note, as well.
And that’s not all, either: before the full launch, they’ll also be holding an exclusive cash-only shirt swap event, where a limited number of certain collector’s items will be sold for as little as £10.
Other things to note are the additions of signed vinyls by homegrown artists such as the aforementioned Aitch and even The Smiths.
In fact, the store will also feature strictly Mancunian exclusives, too.
Everything from polo shirts and tees to branded mugs, matchboxes and other accessories will be available in-store only.
NQ is bound to be buzzing across launch weekend, with doors officially opening to the public on Sunday, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see people camping outside the front well ahead of time.
What a moment the Manc shopping scene is having right now.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Pear)
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Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video
Danny Jones
This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.
In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.
We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.
And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…
Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.
For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.
Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.
While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.
Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.
And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.
We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.
You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.
Daisy Bradbury -
20th November 2020 
