The current lockdown has created many issues surrounding animal adoption – with related charities in desperate need of support now more than ever.
Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home, for instance, has been forced to place all adoptions on hold – temporarily pausing services until the risk to staff is minimised.
COVID-19 has caused endless complications, and it’s been thanks to generous public support that charities have stayed afloat.
Local animal lovers Bryony and Adam are two people who’ve been doing their bit to help – but in quite a different way.
In December 2020, the couple decided to launch Squisho – a pet-themed clothing and merchandise brand designed to help animal organisations.
“Squisho is the brand with a heart, creating eco-friendly products while supporting well-deserved charities,” said the couple, who were determined that the brand should support its local community.
“Bryony’s family dog Albert was a huge inspiration.
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“He was rescued over 10 years ago, which is why supporting charities and rescue centres is so important to us.”
With sales from the aptly-titled Albert collection, 5% of profits are donated to Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home, which has been helping the city’s stray dogs since 1893.
Squisho is also donating to Ragdoll Rescue UK with the Mushu collection, supporting the care and rehoming of cats across the country.
The brand initially began as an experiment by Bryony and Adam during the second national lockdown.
“After both being made redundant in March 2020 and being on furlough during the second lockdown (after thankfully finding new roles), we had a lot more spare time,” they said.
Through sheer dedication and working long hours, the duo have built up the company from scratch – with “random hand-drawn digital doodles of dogs and cats” eventually turning into embroidered designs.
Squisho’s good intentions also extend to sustainability – with the company going to great lengths to ensure that clothing is ethical and packaged with recyclable materials.
“We make our products sustainable and eco-friendly as we feel like we have to play our part in looking after the planet,” said the founders.
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“The clothing industry is huge and with fast fashion, we believe it is important for people to start considering where their products are coming from and what they’re made of.”
Although Squisho is still in its early months, the brand is committed to expanding its collection while continuing their support for local charities.
The future sounds exciting.
“We’re hoping to launch our kids range at the start of March with new designs and new greeting cards,” Bryony and Adam stated.
“We’re also looking to expand on our current adult collections with new designs and styles.”
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Squisho’s entire pet-obsessed collection can be bought on their website.
You can also follow their Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date with exciting new launches and discounts.
Style
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.”
Elle magazine hails Manchester as being ‘fashion capital’ of the year
Daisy Jackson
Manchester has been likened to Paris and New York by esteemed fashion magazine Elle, which has labelled us this year’s ‘fashion and creative capital’.
While our city has long been celebrated for its, ahem, grimier subcultures (from raves to Britpop to footie), things have grown a little more fancy in recent years.
The global spotlight really landed on the city when Chanel chose Thomas Street, of all places, to host its prestigious Métiers d’art last December.
The jokes came fast, the rumoured celebrity guest list went into overdrive, but at the end of the day, it was an impressive display of the city’s fashion credentials.
And now Elle magazine has singled our city out for its present day cultural icons as much as its celebrated past.
In a feature written by Manc Becky Burgum, she pointed out that the Chanel show, rain and all, may have pushed Manchester into an entirely new era – one that’s a bit less about our ‘male-focused past glories’.
The glowing endorsement for the city’s current and future cultural scene spreads several pages in the glossy fashion bible this month.
It states: “Often ignored, always underestimated, the country’s second-largest city is manifesting an explosion of talent.”
In it, Elle sings the praises of massive venues like Aviva Studios, Co-op Live and the Manchester Art Gallery, as well as glamorous newcomers like Fenix and Soho House.
But the magazine also speaks of the ‘less polished Salford outskirts’ which is home to venues including The White Hotel, Paradise Works and Hidden.
As for food and drink, Elle’s piece describing Manchester as a cultural capital singled out The Sparrows, Erst and Higher Ground, all Michelin-recommended spots with their roots planted in the north west.
Over in the ‘Chanel-approved Northern Quarter’, it was venues like Stray (a beautiful cocktail bar in a corner of Mackie Mayor’s building), Afflecks (Manchester’s iconic, eccentric shopping emporium), and Band On The Wall that got a mention.
Night and Day CafeFenix in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupErst in Ancoats. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Edinburgh Castle. Credit: The Manc GroupStray bar in the Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Sparrows. Credit: The Manc GroupBand on the Wall. Credit: The Manc GroupYayoi Kusama exhibit at Aviva Studios. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Chanel Metiers d’art show in Manchester caught the world’s eye, Elle magazine said. Highlights of Manchester singled out by Elle magazine
Then there’s the Edinburgh Castle (best Guinness in the city, apparently), the ‘boundary-smashing’ HOME, and the upcoming Treehouse Hotel, all having their praises sung in one of the country’s most famous magazines.
The piece says: “But our (male-focused) past glories aren’t what makes Manchester so special – it’s all about what’s happening right now.
“There is often a blinkered, London-centric outlook that maintains creativity can’t possibly exist outside the M25. But how wrong that is.”
But, it concludes, ‘don’t forget your umbrella – that’s the only stereotype that rings true’.
Daisy Bradbury -
12th February 2021 
