Manchester Fashion Week Returns, Aiming to Showcase Northern England’s Creative Talent
Manchester hosted its first fashion week in over a decade this week, signaling a renewed effort to establish the city - and the wider north of England - as a significant force in the fashion industry. The event featured designs from both emerging and established talents, including work by Mariusz Malon, known for dressing celebrities like Doja Cat and SZA.
The revival comes as the fashion world reconsiders its geographic focus, with rising costs and a desire for diverse perspectives challenging London’s long-held dominance. Manchester Fashion week aims to provide a platform for creatives who may not have the resources to thrive in the capital, fostering originality and offering an option hub for design and commerce. The event’s success could reshape the UK fashion landscape, offering opportunities for designers, buyers, and media outside of London.
Wayne Hemingway, founder of the 1990s label Red or dead, emphasized the importance of Manchester’s cultural habitat in his own growth as a designer. Growing up in the area, he stated, “It was a place that helped me to understand culture and get into the creative industries. I would not have become a designer without having a city on my doorstep like that.”
however, hemingway expressed reservations about the event’s potential impact given the established presence of London Fashion Week, noting logistical challenges for editors and buyers.”There isn’t the time for the fashion editors to do it; buyers haven’t got that budget to go around the world,” he said, while acknowledging “a positioning in the media for Manchester to be a fashion city of importance.”
Designer Kent, originally from Liverpool, highlighted the financial barriers to establishing a career in London, recalling feeling like “the only working-class person” while studying at Central Saint Martins and ultimately returning home after graduating due to the high costs. He views Manchester fashion Week as a vital opportunity for creatives facing similar challenges, stating, “It’s showing that you don’t have to live in London – you don’t have a massive amount of funds behind you to create and be original with what you design.”
