In the Run Up to LFW, Manchester Took to the Catwalk with a Purpose – Driven Fashion Week

After a ten-year hiatus, Manchester Fashion Week made a bold return with a three-day programme (9–11 September) that redefined what a fashion week can look like in 2025. Held at Campfield House in St John’s, the event didn’t just put on catwalk shows – it created a platform to include discussion on sustainable, tech-driven, and community-led fashion.

(John Higginson, CEO of media partner Eco Age getting ‘In Conversation’ going)

Once the beating heart of Britain’s textile industry, Manchester used the spotlight to blend heritage with innovation, setting a new tone. Designers, panels, and workshops brought together emerging talent, established names, and forward-thinking conversations that placed purpose at the centre of style.

(Drew Kent – ADORAFLORA collection above and top image)

The week opened with a bold statement of identity. Drew Kent’s ADORAFLORA: Queerness in Bloom kicked off the catwalk with a joyful, crochet-based collection that played with gender, craft, and queerness. Later, Malon Fashion, already worn by global stars like SZA and Doja Cat, delivered sculptural, wearable art that wowed the audience.

Eco Age, Manchester Fashion Week’s media partner, hosted the opening panel discussion: “Heritage and Future-Proof”, bringing together industry voices including Mike Stolls of Private White V.C. and experts from resale and ethical production.

Day Two dove deeper into the urgent issues facing the industry with discussion from Safia Minney MBE and Carry Somers sparking frank dialogue on ethics and global impact.

Panels like “The Fabric of Britain” explored the future of UK textile production, while the Mancunia Founders Panel featured local trailblazers including Clints, À Couvert (design pictured right), and Malon Fashion showcasing Manchester’s own fashion handwriting.

On the catwalk, standout shows included:

• MANCUNIA UGLY
• MAKE IT WET
• Bepo
• Śilpa
  Each offered bold perspectives on sustainability, upcycling, and reclaiming identity through fashion.

The final day focused on fashion technology and innovation. The Future Fashion Tech panel and live workshops by Nanoloom and Seamless Source showcased how digital sampling, biomaterials, and automation are reshaping design and reducing waste.

Highlights included:

• V.A.LE’s couture collection, inspired by Princess Diana and created entirely from deadstock materials.
• MAKE IT WET, (pictured left) where each garment is made in Manchester, with care and a commitment to slow fashion and true craft.
• A powerful closing show from Drew Kent, who returned with a vibrant, hand-knitted celebration of queerness and craft.

Across three impactful days, Manchester Fashion Week proved it’s not just another city stop on the fashion calendar. It’s a platform for radical collaboration, creative responsibility, and cultural renewal.

Gemma Gratton, Executive Producer of Manchester Fashion Week, said: “Manchester Fashion Week has proved that it is not just another date in the calendar. It is a statement that this city, with its history, honesty and creativity, has the power to shape global conversations about fashion’s future.”

John Higginson, CEO of media partner Eco Age, added: “Having Manchester Fashion Week back is about more than style. It’s about proving that a city built on making can set a new standard for fashion rooted in craft, community and responsibility.”

To find out more visit: https://mcrfashionweek.com/

All images courtesy of Manchester Fashion Week / Ines Bahr