Manchester Fashion Week returned to the city this week after a ten year absence.
The opening panel, hosted by sustainable fashion consultancy Eco Age set the tone by framing Manchester as a “catalyst city” with the power to unite heritage and innovation.
The focus then shifted to the runway, where Liverpudlian designer Drew Kent unveiled ADORAFLORA: Queerness in Bloom, a bold, playful collection which “reimagined craft and identity” for a new generation.
Known for his non-conformist approach to crochet and knit using sustainable materials, Kent presented his SS26 capsule collection rooted in “eco-fabulous queer maximalism.” ADORAFLORA carried forward his graduate work as a wardrobe designed for interchangeability and self-expression.
The palette, soft pinks, deep violets and jolts of neon yellow, drew on childhood memories of dressing Action Men in Barbie’s clothes, reimagined as a “Polly Pocket fantasy” of fluid silhouettes.
Designed for interchangeability, the pieces encouraged layering and transformation, rejecting fixed definitions of identity. ADORAFLORA closed with Kent’s statement: “My queerness is in full bloom.”
On day two of the three-day event ecosystems and accountability were at the centre of the programme.
Workshops, panels and runways worked in tandem, moving beyond spectacle to interrogate the forces shaping fashion’s future.
On the catwalk MAKE IT WET, by Megan Hughes, drew on her North Wales coastal heritage, merging vibrant marine-inspired prints with oversized silhouettes and a slow-made ethos.
BEPO added an innovative edge with outerwear constructed from excess stock materials, transforming utility into sculptural design. Meanwhile, Śilpa, the Manchester-based British South-Asian label by Myno Macheda, fused clean punk and surrealism with heritage references, offering hand-finished, minimal-waste pieces that felt both personal and enduring.
Closing the day, À Couvert presented sharp, conceptual menswear in luxury technical fabrics. Founded by James Small, the brand blends military heritage with modern precision, creating limited-edition outerwear made in Manchester as true investment pieces.
A series of evening events opened the conversation to the public, as ethical and sustainable innovations in fashion was discussed in The Future Fashion Fair hosted by Carry Somers (Fashion Revolution) joining Safia Minney (Fashion Declares), and Paul Foulkes-Arellano from Eco Age, Manchester Fashion Week’s media partner, in dialogue.
The night concluded with Music Meets Fashion and Culture, where Wayne Hemingway and DJ Paulette reflected on Manchester’s creative intersections.
Gemma Gratton, Executive Producer, Manchester Fashion Week, said: “Day two was about going deeper, asking how fashion is made, who it impacts and what needs to change. The debates on stage showed that Manchester is unafraid to confront the industry’s hardest questions, while the runways proved its creativity is as uncompromising as ever.”
Main image Drew Kent: ADORAFLORA courtesy of Arthur Swiffen
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