Manchester wants to return to the forefront of the fashion scene. After hosting shows for Chanel and Fila in recent years, with Haider Ackermann at the helm, the northern English metropolis, which was the capital of the textile industry in the 19th century – it was nicknamed “Cottonopolis” because it produced half the world’s cotton – is looking to reaffirm its link with fashion by relaunching Manchester Fashion Week. It is announcing its return, after a ten-year hiatus, with a new team and management, and a focus on sustainable development.

The event will take place over three days from September 9 to 11, just before the “Big Four” marathon of Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Its nerve center will be Campfield, Manchester’s former market halls in the new St. Johns district, which have been renovated and transformed into a hub for tech and creative start-ups.

“The event will be steered by renowned industry thought leaders, including Carry Somers, the co-founder of the Fashion Revolution movement, and Safia Minney, another sustainable fashion pioneer at the helm of ethical fashion brand People Tree,” said the organizers, in a statement, adding that the executive producer of this Manchester Fashion Week is Gemma Gratton, who boasts twenty years’ experience in sales and project management. Manchester Fashion Week is also supported by the media platform and sustainability consultancy Eco Age.

“Manchester has always been at the forefront, whether in music, manufacturing, or movements. Today, it’s time to return to the forefront by preparing the future of fashion from scratch. Manchester Fashion Week is not just a celebration of style, but a cultural catalyst for people, purpose, and progress,” said Gratton, who co-founded the Manchester Fashion Movement in 2019 to raise awareness of the damaging effects of clothing overproduction and launched the ethical brand The Bee Thrive.

Manchester Fashion Week will welcome established brands and emerging designers, the organizers announced without detailing the program, stating that beyond the runway shows, “it will highlight heritage and future, health and wellness, tech and innovation, merging fashion with responsible innovation,” during round tables, exhibitions, and interactive experiences.

Manchester Fashion Week was launched in Manchester in the early 2010s, but only lasted a few editions. In parallel, another event called Northern Fashion Week was held between 2022 and 2024.