Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Damon Wilkinson

The five items no Manchester man should be without - according to the lads at Bionic Seven

Nick Rhodes has one piece of advice for anyone into their clothes. "Don't throw anything away, honestly you'd be amazed at what it could be worth." he says.

And he should know.

Nick and fellow clothing obsessive Imran Kazmi have run vintage store Bionic Seven for almost 20 years. Having originally set up shop in Afflecks arcade, they went through several moves before settling in their current location on Port Street on the edge of the Northern Quarter in 2012.

Read more:

Vintage clothing is more popular than ever. The market is expected to double in size by 2027, reaching a global value of £280bn. It's affordable, in the age of fast fashion it's sustainable, and most importantly of all says Nick, it's unique.

"It's the individuality of it," says Nick. "You can come in here and buy something and you know you're not going to bump into someone else wearing the same thing.

A vintage North face smock (Manchester Evening News)

"At the moment everything goes back to military and workwear. The only thing that changes is the fit. That's why this stuff still works and still looks good."

Nick and Imran keep the shelves stocked through regular buying trips to rag warehouses in Texas, and here in the UK. But Brexit and the pound's crash against the Euro has meant importing clothes from Paris, which used to be their other favourite haunt, is no longer viable.

In the US Nick says they're on the hunt for classic Americana - sportswear such as Champion sweatshirts, old workwear brands like Pendleton and Woolwich, Levis, Wrangler and Lee denim and military wear. In UK the focus is closer to home.

Nick and Imran source their stock from rag warehouses in Texas and across the UK (Manchester Evening News)

Lacoste polo shirts are a perennial favourite, especially the original Chemise version, but 90s Berghaus, North Face and Sprayway jackets, anything from Barbour, and Burberry and Aquascutum macs are also particularly sought after.

Once back in the shop the clothes are washed or dry-cleaned, and ironed before being carefully curated on the shelves and rails.

"You'd been amazed at the quality of some of the stuff people throw out - it's incredible," says Nick, 48. "We're constantly looking. You get an eye for it, for that thing that's unique.

"I have to try not to keep too much for myself. That's the perk of the job, but we've still got to make money. I can't keep all the cream!

"And I really try not to hoard too much, because you can get a bit obsessive. I've always loved clothes and I still love it now. I love seeking the good stuff out."

Nick's five staples of Mancunian menswear

(Manchester Evening News)

1990s Berghaus jacket

"They're such amazing colours and back then it was proper rambling gear. This one is from around 1992 I think. The early 90s ones have the old heavy Gortex - the new ones now are much more technical and lighter. - and they were made in the North East. This was their heyday."

(Manchester Evening News)

Chemise Lacoste polo shirt

"They're harder to find nowadays because there's so many snide versions out there. You can go through a huge pile of 'em in the warehouses and only find a few proper ones.

"But the 1980s Chemise Lacoste polo is still the one. We could sell them all day long."

(Manchester Evening News)

French work jacket

"Every country does a version of a work jacket. There's the classic French navy blue one, but we've got this Vietnamese one in stock with a Mandarin collar and an old English one where you can take the buttons off so they don't get damaged when you wash it."

(Manchester Evening News)

Levi 501s

"It has to be a pair of Levis doesn't it? They will never go out of fashion. Every other pair of jeans comes from this - the only thing that changes is the fit."

(Manchester Evening News)

Robe di Kappa cardigan

"This is Italian-made from the 1970s and it's just really nice. Some of the Italian woollen mills were incredible, the quality was incredible."

Plus honourable mentions for John Smedley crewnecks, Spring Court canvas pumps and Clarks Desert Treks.

Read more of today's top stories here

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.