Manchester Fashion Week Reinforces the City’s Status as a Global Fashion Powerhouse
The story of Manchester's growth into the world's first industrial city stands upon “cottonopolis”. A city that was initially shaped by cotton and textile production. From the late 18th century, machine filled cotton mills sparked the industrial revolution and used thousands of working-class labour and the transatlantic slave trade, exploiting millions of enslaved African people to grow cotton for Manchester mills. This booming industry resulted in mass wealth for the city and shaped Manchester into a city that offered a new way off life and mass opportunity for many.
By the 19th century, Manchester was established as a major hub for cotton. Today, Manchester is a booming city in the United Kingdom, with multiple fashion Universities and many fast-fashion brands calling the city their home. However, what does the fashion industry look like today in a modern world? Manchester Fashion industry today is worth £12 Billion and ever growing, aiming to surpass London’s fashion circles.
Manchester Fashion week returned for the first time in nine years; showcasing new talent from emerging designers and talks surrounding sustainability and the future of fashion from industry experts. Manchester Fashion Week aims to be at the forefront of change, championing new designs, trends and innovations; whilst also recognizing the cities large LGBTIQ+ community, fashion history and heritage.
Designer Malon presents at Manchester Fashion Week. Photo by @parisrunwayofficial media team @photobymoll
Manchester Fashion week was hosted in the newly refurbished Campfield, which merged a beautiful historic building with modernity. A perfect setting for Manchester Fashion Week, which recognizes the cities unique fashion subcultures, style, and passion for vintage and heritage pieces. Organizers described the three days as “where vintage meets visionary” ; this was definitely the case.
Day one was “heritage and future proofing” and included talks with Fashion Revolution, a charity organization that offers product pipeline education, and encourages consumers to ask “who made my clothes?” . Discussions on decoding green washing and collections by emerging designers such as “Indilisi” who creates garments using certified organic and fairtrade materials and “Elite Pre Loved” who created a runway from luxury second hand clothing, acknowledging trends of decades past such as 90’s grunge and the bodycon dress of the 2010s as well as modern and cutting edge outfit builds of modern day. The evening was closed with a breathtaking show by Malon Fashion and a live performance by Phoebe Green wearing Custom Malon. His designs use bold and genderless silhouettes, using houndstooth and repurposing forgotten objects into couture. The shows were thusly watched by an audience of fabulously dressed guests, who were the epitome of Northen fashion today.
Designer Indilisi presents at Manchester Fashion Week. Photo by @parisrunwayofficial media team @photobymoll
Day two was “ecosystems and outerwear” which championed slow fashion designers. Brands such as “Mancunia Ugly” who’s designs are rooted in her appreciation of classic cars and repurposes materials such as car interiors, and “Make it wet” which, alongside a nautical fisherman theme, taking fishing rods and nets to the runway, crafts bags from deadstock textiles, working towards lessening landfill textile wastage. The day closed with “A Couvert” a luxury menswear utilitarian collection, which focuses on timeless military cuts and colour palette for a modern setting.
Designer A Couvert presents at Manchester Fashion Week. Photo by @parisrunwayofficial media team @photobymoll
The final day was “tech and innovation” with a focus on discussing innovation, tech and the future of fashion and fun runways such as “vale” a joyful couture womenswear collection that is an eclectic mix of pastel, bows and striking silhouettes. Overall, Manchester has demonstrated the cities forward thinking and appreciation for northern creatives.
Designer Elite Pre Loved presents at Manchester Fashion Week. Photo by @parisrunwayofficial media team @photobymoll