Manchester Fashion Week Returns After a Decade

After a ten-year hiatus, Manchester Fashion Week is making its highly anticipated return this Autumn, bringing with it a visionary agenda for the future of fashion. Running from 9th to 11th September, the event will serve as a powerful platform to tackle some of the industry’s most pressing challenges – from sustainability to technology and cultural relevance.

Set against the backdrop of Manchester’s rich textile legacy and thriving £12bn fashion economy, the rebooted Manchester Fashion Week marks a cultural renaissance for the city. Following news that the BRIT Awards will be hosted in Manchester next year – the first time outside of London in its 48-year history – this fashion revival is yet another milestone in the city’s growing status as Britain’s new culture capital.

The event, themed around Heritage & Future-Proof, Health & Wellness, and Tech & Innovation, will draw a line from the city’s historic cotton mills to its contemporary design culture. By spotlighting emerging designers alongside established brands, Manchester Fashion Week will offer a unique convergence of tradition and transformation in the fashion space.

Anchoring the event will be thought leaders such as Carry Somers, founder of the global movement Fashion Revolution, and Safia Minney, MBE, founder of People Tree and a renowned voice in sustainable and fair trade fashion. They will be joined by a host of industry experts dedicated to reshaping fashion’s future through ethical, inclusive, and innovative practices.

Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) will also take centre stage at the event. As a leader in ethical manufacturing and UK-made fashion, FEL’s Founder and CEO, Jenny Holloway, will participate in a high-profile panel discussion focused on sustainable, tech-forward, Made in the UK production.

This conversation will be particularly valuable for independent designers and start-ups looking to build responsible brands. Jenny’s contribution will shed light on practical solutions and real-world strategies to ensure UK manufacturing remains viable, ethical, and competitive in a global fashion landscape.

“Manchester has always led – in music, in manufacturing, in movements. And now, it’s time to lead again by future-proofing fashion from the ground up,” said Gemma Gratton, Executive Producer of Manchester Fashion Week (pictured right). “This isn’t just a celebration of style; it’s a cultural catalyst for people, purpose, and progress.”

John Higginson, CEO of media partner Eco-Age, added: “Manchester is Britain’s fashion mecca. Where else do you go where everyone walks around as if they are always on a catwalk? But there is a fight between crappy, flimsy fast fashion and the beautiful things you want to keep forever. Manchester Fashion Week is all about future fashion – forever fashion.”

The three-day event will be based in the vibrant St. John’s area, with the official hub set in Campfield, a newly refurbished and culturally rich venue. It will be an immersive experience for industry insiders and the public alike, offering everything from runway shows and talks to citywide cultural activations.

Designed as an industry-led pilot, this first edition will lay the groundwork for an annual fashion event in Manchester, with public installations and satellite experiences animating the city throughout September.

Manchester Fashion Week 2025 promises more than just stylish collections — it’s a reset moment for British fashion rooted in transparency, innovation, and community. With the involvement of pioneering organisations like Fashion-Enter Ltd, the event aims to inspire a new generation of designers and consumers to think differently about what we wear and how it’s made.

Stay updated and find out more at: www.fashionweekmanchester.co.uk