After a ten-year absence, Manchester Fashion Week returned today with impact and attitude.
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 that reimagined craft and identity for a new generation.
Drew Kent: ADORAFLORA
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.”
Heritage and Future-Proof[SG1]
Eco Age kicked off the debate with the morning panel and positioned Manchester as a city capable of setting new standards in responsibility, skills and local value. The fireside chat, chaired by Eco Age’s CEO John Higginson, brought together Mike Stolls, Managing Director of Private White V.C., Fay Broad of Elite Pre-Loved and RROTATORR, and MFW Executive Producer Gemma Gratton.
John Higginson, CEO of Eco Age, says, “Manchester is a city of maker and innovators. This week is about doing the work in public. We are connecting heritage, skills and innovation to build models that last.
“Runways matter, but measurable impact matters more. If we leave this week with clearer commitments on local production, circularity and fair work, then we have done our job.”
Gemma Gratton, Executive Producer, MFW, says, “Manchester leads when it is practical, honest and bold. We built this programme around learning as much as showing. Education, workshops and open debate sit alongside the runway because that is how real change lands.”
The first day concluded with a clear message: Manchester Fashion Week is not simply reviving an event but re-establishing the city as a serious force in global fashion. With packed rooms, strong debate and a standout runway, the return has laid the foundations for an ambitious two days ahead.
