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.
“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.
“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.”
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
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 -
12th February 2021 
