Based in Affleck’s, the Trouser Project Collective is a hub for passionate creatives to collaborate and customise secondhand clothing.
Transforming tired garments with unconventional designs, the brand creates graphic pieces that are entirely unique to Manchester’s style scene.
Megan Lewis pioneered this collective group when she started the Trouser Project as a solo venture two years ago.
After buying too many pairs of trousers when charity shopping, she decided to customise them with bleach designs.
Shortly afterwards, she bit the bullet and opened a store to showcase these garments, and the eclectic creativity of Affleck’s felt like a perfect fit.
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“I dropped out of uni and into the life that I really wanted”, says Megan, who was able to pursue her dream of painting as a full-time job.
Their eclectic range of original pieces is handmade by the six members, giving upcycled clothing a fresh and funky appearance.
Whether it’s patchwork dresses, intricate illustrations or their iconic painted jeans, the six members have completely rocked the boat when it comes to sustainable style.
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Whilst the future is bright for these six Mancunian creatives, their projects are currently on hold due to the nationwide lockdown.
“Ideally, we would all be meeting up and painting on clothes and big canvases together but of course this isn’t possible”, says Megan, who is eager to return to the studio when restrictions ease.
However, they aren’t letting the pandemic prevent their creativity and have found ways to collaborate whilst following Manchester’s strict guidelines.
“[Katy from TrollWear] used recycled denim to make a jacket and we’re going to paint/print onto it one at a time then cycle it to the next person’s house.”
Trouser Project Collective will be reopening their doors in Affleck’s on Wednesday.
Salford City drop first new kit ahead of new era for the football club
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have finally dropped the first new kit for the team’s new era, with the native second city side having fully reverted to orange and black as their core colours and a fresh club crest late last year.
The local club, which was famously bought by Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ and businessman Peter Lim back in 2014, is now embarking on its next chapter and a “new identity” – starting with going back to the days of old when it comes to the badge and official palette.
After the change was initially announced last October following feedback from an extensive fan review, a first glimpse at the rebooted badge, which calls back to previous versions, and the details behind it were revealed this past December.
Fast forward to Wednesday, 8 July, and the latest away shirt incorporating the new (and old) core design tenets has been released in full glory; here’s a closer look:
As you can see, the white-base alternate strip features the iconic adidas three stripes in orange across the shoulders and sleeves as a representation of their new primary colour, but keeps the second accent often used on home, away and/or third kits in recent years.
Keeping the black with an orange trim on the neck and cuffed short sleeves, Ammies can almost certainly expect some kind of inversion of the trio on the main for the home shirt.
Perhaps most notably, leading global insurer AIG is printed across the front and the new principal sponsor, continuing their partnership with the organisation and replacing Fireball Whisky after a short stint as the lead brand logo.
Unsurprisingly, some Salford supporters have noted that it is reminiscent of Man United kits from 2006-2010, who were also sponsored by the company.
Elsewhere, international technology consultancy Accenture features across the upper portion of the back of the shirt, and British wellness retailer Holland & Barrett appear on the left-hand sleeve.
Finally, the kit is completed with white shorts that also feature orange stripes and a black and orange trim, and customised ‘SCFC’ white socks.
Salford’s Lionesses women’s team will wear black shorts with orange stripes instead. What do you make of the first fresh shirt of the new era, Salfordians?
An exclusive pop-up vintage clothing and charity market is coming to Manchester Arndale
Danny Jones
Love shopping locally, independently and sustainably and from the likes of traders and regional markets? Well, this one is tailor-made for you (pun intended), because a Greater Manchester favourite is coming to the city centre.
Better still, you can do your bit for charity whilst you’re at it.
That’s right: Salford’s former but ever superb Charity Super.Mkt is making its way from Media City to central Manchester for the very first time.
Popping up at the Arndale for its city centre debut, Exchange Court will be taken over by a sea of indies and vintage clobber for three whole days.
Credit: Press shot (supplied via Charity Super.Mkt)
Boasting not only some native but even national history, the UK’s first multi-charity pre-loved fashion store boasts countless curated charity finds.
From second-hand gems and desirable denim, to retro and cult favourite football shirts and more, there’ll be plenty to get your hands on – all whilst supporting charities from nearby and all over the country.
Co-founded by Northern designer Wayne Hemingway MBE – whose Red or Dead footwear brand and fashion label began in Afflecks Palace and over on King Street – the Manc roots behind this run deep.
Notably, this upcoming and limited-time-only event marks a significant milestone for the initiative, too, as this will be their biggest activation since their highly successful two-month stint at the Quayside shopping complex.
The popular residency was only relatively short-lived, but it’s safe to say that it was much-loved and well-received by plenty more than just Salfordians.
Getting underway this month, the pop-up will kick off from 9am on Friday, 10 July, running across the entire weekend.
Participating charities include The British Heart Foundation and the RSPCA, who have already seen support through more than 10,000 vintage items being resold in an effort to raise important funds from the Media City pop-up alone.
This also meant that more than three tonnes of textile waste were diverted from landfill, and over 25 tonnes of CO₂ emissions were offset, not to mention upwards of 4,500 cubic metres of water were saved in the process. Brilliant stuff.
Making its maiden appearance in Manchester city centre, this summer’s Charity Super.Mkt at the Arndale is a must-not-miss; you can find the opening times for each of the days down below:
Daisy Bradbury -
27th November 2020 
