Made in Manchester

Ah, Manchester. The great city of The North. Home of Oasis, Joy Division, my not-so guilty pleasure Take That, and of course, City and United. Whilst Manchester is world renowned for its music scene and first class football teams, it is now becoming an emerging player on the fashion scene. What’s not to love? It’s considerably cheaper than London — lower rent and lower priced drinks! It’s no wonder that many of the UK’s biggest online retailers are based in our great city; from Missguided to Pretty Little Thing, the Manchester fashion scene is one to keep an eye on.

In addition to their huge online retail presence, Manchester is also home to a number of successful independent designers and brands including celebrity favourite Zeynep Kartal, Forever Unique, and Beaumont Organic.

Zeynep Kartal

Zeynep Kartal first unveiled her collection back in 2013 at Manchester Vogue Fashion Night Out and has since been a sought after designer for celebrities and mere mortals alike. Her signature style celebrates femininity, so expect to see lace and silk, but also leather and fur. Her latest Autumn/Winter 17 collection is predominantly made up of hues of pink: pink fur, pink leather, pink silk. Think less Barbie girl with more sophistication — these looks are timeless. Kartal also includes black and rich emerald green velvet in her collection, for those who want a sultrier look that still exudes femininity. Kartal studied design at Manchester City College, and her showroom is based on King Street. Her A-list credentials include Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, Marina of Marina and the Diamonds, and Pixie Lott, plus her designs have also been featured in Vogue, Hello, and Cosmo. Zeynep Kartal is a credit to the Manchester fashion scene, bringing a high fashion look to our great city.

Forever Unique

The Manchester based luxury fashion label Forever Unique creates affordable, designer fashion, and is a celebrity favourite.  Seema Malhotra, a Fashion and Design graduate from the University of Salford, established the brand in 2008 alongside her husband, Sandeep, and the business has gone from strength to strength. Seema started with a capsule collection of ten dresses; within one week, the designs had sold out. Today, Forever Unique offers over 200 pieces and remains a roaring success. The designs are completely glam with a focus on embellishment, fringing, and figure hugging silhouettes.  Forever Unique is a one-stop shop for dazzling day and evening wear that is unlike anything on the high street.

Beaumont Organic

Beaumont Organic is a luxurious but affordable organic clothing line based in Manchester. Designer Hannah Beaumont creates pieces using the softest organic cotton that will make timeless additions to your wardrobe. After researching the damaging effects that growing cotton has on the environment, Hannah wanted to make a luxury clothing line that is also environmentally friendly. From this, Beaumont Organic was born. Not only does buying from Beaumont Organic equip you with super on trend pieces, you’re also helping the environment! I’ve never heard a better reason to go shopping.

Whether you’ve just moved to Manchester, or you are starting your final year, take full advantage of the amazing and unique shopping that the city has to offer. From window-shopping at the Avenue to bargain hunting in the vintage shops of the Northern Quarter, Manchester really does have it all. Grab your umbrella and fall in love with the endless fabulous shopping opportunities this town has to offer.