Is Manchester the next big fashion city?

Alongside her brand, Bell runs a brand consultancy for other local brands, including Adanola and The Couture Club. She feels the Manchester talent pool is changing, reflecting the city’s growing fashion chops. “The influx of CVs coming from London is crazy today. And talent is willing to make the move to Manchester,” she says. “Before, not many people knew the likes of Adanola or Represent are Manchester brands. Now [Manchester founders] are putting ourselves on the map a little bit.”

While Manchester is increasingly attracting fashion talent, right now it still skews towards e-commerce and sportswear/casual fashion, because of the fast fashion past, Represent CEO Spencer says. “London is obviously still sharper when it comes to fashion with a capital F, and finding talent from luxury brands, which tend to be down there to enable us to elevate, is important. In Manchester, we were finding, when it came to designers and graphic designers, we were pulling from a pool that was more sports-inspired.”

“We’ve got a lot of creative minds in the North. And I think it’s a shame not to let those flourish. Manchester was the world’s first fashion city. It’s nice now how things are coming back full circle,” says Nadine Merabi (left). Her eponymous brand hit £40 million revenue in 2024.

Photo: Courtesy of Nadine Merabi

Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the largest fashion schools in the UK, with more than 1,800 students training to be the next generation of designers and fashion change-makers, she adds. But they need even more brands to work at. “I have seen a shift, but I think it will take a bit longer,” Merabi says. “You’ve got so many young, creative, brilliant minds finishing university. It’s our responsibility to make sure that we continue to build these businesses in the North so that more people feel they can stay here.”

A supportive local community

Manchester people get behind their brands. It forms a solid local foundation for fledgling labels, allowing them to build at home and then expand globally. Streetwear and footwear label Clints — launched during the pandemic — is one of the city’s best-loved local labels. It’s one of many Manchester brands born from Covid times, notes founder Junior Clint. “In Manchester, I think you can try things out without the pressure of what it looks like from outside. When I started, I handmade products and sold them online and at pop-ups. And there was almost an instant impact in the city. People out here are very supportive,” he says. Clints declined to share revenues, but now has a thriving business in the US and Europe via its e-commerce.