Fashion - Work - a way of life
I’ve always been big into fashion, it has played a massive part in my life over the years and still does. For the last couple of years I’ve got right into buying vintage and I’m always trying to find that next killer piece. I love original classics, everything from footwear to outerwear and anything in between. Most recently almost everything I’m buying is from the late 80’s through to the year 2000 but my favourite era was the 90’s. I just feel that stuff was always better the first time round.
I’ve picked up some mint vintage bits from classic Ralph and Lacoste polos and knitwear to Berghaus and Sprayway jackets. My most recent find was an original Woolrich parka.
My store of choice for vintage bits is Bionicseven in my hometown, Manchester. It’s owned and run by a couple of mates of mine, Nick and Imran. I worked with Nick for a number of years in Aspecto and yeah you guessed it - back in the 90’s
Where did it all start for me? Well how long have you got?
Growing up in north Manchester it was all about football and music and who’s wearing what. As a young Manc I was going to school in Sprayway jackets and Rockport boots. At the weekend, we upped our game with everything from Ralph, Lacoste, Armani to Burberry (Burberry’s as it was known back then) So in 1995, I went to collage and I worked part time in retail. This is where I quickly found out I could sell sand to the Arabs and ice to the Eskimos. You got top discount and were paid weekly so it was a no brainier really. I moved round a few stores, as you did in retail and I found myself working at the best shop in Manchester (at the time) Aspecto. Aspecto changed my outlook on fashion massively. I went from that north Manc Scally look to wearing the likes of Stussy, Maharishi, Duffer and many more street wear brands.
Then came the really expensive years of Prada Sport and Stone Island and CP Company. Once again, I was lucky enough to be working in Flannels where once again we got top discount!
Fast forward a number of years, I even opened my own store in Edinburgh with my best mate Wass (the less said about that the better) but what FUN we had ! After the store, I got into the buying/sales agent side of fashion which was a natural progression. Buying was great because you got to travel all over the world. There were trade shows twice a year in Barcelona, New York, London and Florence just to name just a few.
To this day fashion is still a big part of my life even though I’m not in the industry anymore. I am known for my morning mirror selfie’s and I do love a bit of colour coordinating stuff such as socks and beanies now that winter season is upon us . It’s all about the layering up and outerwear!
Go check out Bionicseven - for your vintage fix!
Bionicseven
60 port street Manchester
@bionicseven #bionicseven
Fletch.
