Manchester? Known for its vivacious music scene, animated areas of subcultures and free-formed liberation. Sometimes playing second fiddle to the capital, it has become the breeding ground of the well-dressed, well-informed, and of course, a treasure trove for reworked, vintage and thrift clothing.
This Northern powerhouse permeates a sense of style as vintage meets streetwear meets gothic comebacks. We have dissected those that are at the forefront. Whether they are hidden gems of the Northern Quarter or a more curated take on vintage, Manchester has it all in at its fingertips. From universal brands and styles, generation to generation, the ‘40s to 2022, Italy to the UK, Manchester’s thrifting hotspots really have it all…
THE WONDERFUL FLIGHT
The Wonderful Flight is a wonder emporium. A vintage shop and showroom situated in the heart of Manchester, this thrifting corner of the city doesn’t throw anything on the rails, it is more of a curation. A curated selection of vintage designer goods from all corners of the world.
Carhartt WIP, Woolrich, Dickies and Levis Strauss & Co – stalwarts of the vintage sphere – capture the rugged phenomenon that makes this movement so unique. Starting life as an online shop at first, The Wonderful Flight aims at those in the past to dress the present and future days of tomorrow. Their ability to source clothes on a worldwide scale takes a voyage into ’90s vintage sportswear, Americana inspired ‘60s and everything in-between.
GONE FISHING VINTAGE
Gone Fishing Vintage does things a little differently, and that’s not to say the least. Its operation, tucked away in Manchester’s Oldham Street, in the Northern Quarter – a vibrant vicinity made up of retro clothing, rare vinyl, and independent emporiums – specialises in a curation of global designers from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Started from a hobby of buying and reselling, the guys behind Gone Fishing moved the venture into a full-time space where the likes of Stone Island, Prada and anything Massimo Osti related can be picked up. This vintage spectacle is an ode to fashion culture and lifestyle with minimal showroom aesthetics and a ‘less is more’ mentality.
BLUE RINSE
Blue Rinse is a Manchester Thrifting institution. Nestled in the heartland of Northern Quarter, its momentous collection of new-found favourites ticks boxes from all genres, time zones and worldwide appeal. Expect everything from Hawaiian shirts, vintage Levis, bootcut flares and an all-encapsulating world of vintage, reworked, and Thrifty clothing. Alongside everyday shopping habits, those behind Blue Rinse offer a regular Kilo sale where restocks are frequent, and preloved garments are ready for a new home.
If its perpetual collection of clothing isn’t appealing enough, Blue Rinse has recently started to champion local art in its shop window to sit alongside its eclectic thrifting outtakes.
BIONIC SEVEN
Bionic Seven meets in the middle, between Blue Rinse and The Wonderful Flight. Open since 2005, the objective behind the shop was an amalgamation of premium hand-picked vintage and modern classic garments. Another Northern Quarter delight, Bionic Seven gives accessibility to premium outfits, from an array of carefully selected wholesalers. Clothing and accessories from the mid 20th century alongside contemporary brands showcase a timeless relationship the shop, the owners and the customers all have with such pieces.
Presented in a thoughtful and curated collection, Bionic Seven is the medium of vintage behind workwear, outerwear, and military clothing from the likes of L.L. Bean, Ralph Lauren, Champion, Lacoste, amongst others.
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