Discover Manchester’s Thriving Vintage Shopping Scene

This little gem, located at 2 Dale Street, is often voted as the best independent store in Manchester. They work with the best up-and-coming designers to create sustainable fashion pieces. That’s right; all Junk Shop’s items are created from recycled items or sustainable materials! The shop’s visual merchandising also adheres to this concept, which includes a counter made from reused washing-up bottles, and an old walk in wardrobe as a changing room. You HAVE to visit just to see the décor.

Pop Boutique is situated on 34-36 Oldham Street and aims to not only fulfill your vintage fashion needs, but also quench your thirst for quirky junk too. The store’s retro décor, (especially its snazzy 70s wallpaper) perfectly complements its vintage finds from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They even have their own range called the Pop Label; check it out on their website pop-boutique.com.

Photo: Pop Boutique

Photo: Pop Boutique

Spread over four floors, Afflecks is a must for anybody wanting to gain insight into the alternative scene in Manchester. Not only can you purchase the typical fashion pieces or accessories, but you can also get a tattoo or piercing; a must for most alternative style tribes. You can find Afflecks on 52 Church Street, and the building's steel artwork makes it hard to miss!

Of course, Oxfam is a registered charity which accepts all kinds of donations from the public to sell within their stores, but Oxfam Originals located on 51 Oldham Street differs in the way that it only sells one-off donated designer goods. A must if you want to invest into a luxury item at the fraction of the price. Plus, you’ll feel even less guilty about your splurge as you can rest assured that all proceeds are going directly to charity.

22 Oldham Street brings a taste of Japan to rainy old Manchester, as Thunder Egg offers an array of Japanese inspired fashion and accessories. Brands on sale include Emilly Strange and Insight. It’s definitely worth a visit if you have a penchant for Japanese fashion, if not just to brighten up your day by looking at all of those crazy colours.