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Wear Abouts

Manchester Fashion Institute
Wear Abouts
Latest episode

15 episodes

  • Wear Abouts

    Producing Inclusive Fashion Events with Strutty B*tch

    02/06/2026 | 38 mins.
    So here it is, our final episode of season two, and some might say that we've saved the best until last. Strutty B*tch sashayed onto our radar as the lead of an amazing collaborative project, in which MFI students work as production assistants on an incredible catwalk show at Homobloc, one of the biggest events on Manchester's cultural calendar. 
    Strutty has worked on all kinds of events, and in this episode, we break down his journey into that world, what it's like to work behind the scenes of world-class experiential projects and why fashion is eternally obsessed with spectacle. 
    It's a joyful, insightful and thoughtful journey into just one of the industries within the industry, and honestly, we can't think of a better way to close out the season. 
    You can follow Strutty on Insta at: @struttybitch. Be sure to check out what he builds @homoelectric and @homobloc too. 
    Thank you for all your support this season. We've loved creating this show and hope that it's helped you to explore why fashion matters and how it fits into your life. ✌️
    Did you enjoy the episode? Send us a text. 💬
    Subscribe now for new episodes every other Monday. Please take the time to rate and/or review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We cherish every rating and review. They help to ensure this project continues.

    Join Wear Abouts over on Instagram for bonus video content: instagram.com/wearabouts_pod
    You can also follow Manchester Fashion Institute on Instagram: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstitute

    And check out our courses here: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
  • Wear Abouts

    Bonus Episode: MFI Showcase 2026

    15/05/2026 | 26 mins.
    We're back this week with a special episode previewing our Manchester Fashion Institute Showcase, taking place on Tuesday, 19th May. It's one of the best days of the year at MFI, and this year, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the events. 
    We've got four great guests in this episode... 
    Christian Kuhwald, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design Technology and MFI Showcase Lead. He's the man who orchestrates our jaw-dropping catwalk shows, so we're getting the scoop on what to expect.
    Rowan Simms-Ridgway is one of our final-year BA Fashion students, whose collection will be part of the first show on the night. (@rsr.fd / @proonwdasn)
    Amina Jeng's work will feature in our fashion communications exhibition. She's studying BA Fashion Art Direction. (@amina_jeng)
    Last but certainly not least is Shivani Bali from BSc Fashion Business and Management, whose project will be part of our business showcase event. (@shivanibali_)
    You can tune in to our livestream of the catwalks here from 5:20pm. Or, there might still be time to grab one of the last few tickets for the screening of the livestream in our SODA cinema here. 
    Did you enjoy the episode? Send us a text. 💬
    Subscribe now for new episodes every other Monday. Please take the time to rate and/or review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We cherish every rating and review. They help to ensure this project continues.

    Join Wear Abouts over on Instagram for bonus video content: instagram.com/wearabouts_pod
    You can also follow Manchester Fashion Institute on Instagram: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstitute

    And check out our courses here: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
  • Wear Abouts

    Powering Sustainable Fashion with CircKit's Joe Darwen and Annabel Lindsay

    04/05/2026 | 37 mins.
    The fashion industry generates a gargantuan amount of waste year-on-year, with billions of garments going straight to landfill. 
    Manchester-based start-up CircKit wants to help solve that problem and in the process, help brands to make money rather than waste it. 
    Founder Joe Darwen and Brand and Communications Manager Annabel Lindsay (an MFI grad) join us this week to discuss their plans to "unf*ck fashion" through their AI-powered circular toolkit. 
    They claim that there's a $700 billion opportunity across the sector through the development of truly circular products, so let's hear them out!

    Did you enjoy the episode? Send us a text. 💬
    Subscribe now for new episodes every other Monday. Please take the time to rate and/or review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We cherish every rating and review. They help to ensure this project continues.

    Join Wear Abouts over on Instagram for bonus video content: instagram.com/wearabouts_pod
    You can also follow Manchester Fashion Institute on Instagram: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstitute

    And check out our courses here: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
  • Wear Abouts

    Jess O'Riley and James Robinson on setting up Making Room

    20/04/2026 | 43 mins.
    This week, we welcome two of our recent graduates back on campus so they can catch us up on their game-changing project that's bringing garment production back to Manchester. 
    Jess O'Riley (@j.o.studioo) and James Robinson (@coldonasunday) met for the first time on one of their last days on campus at MFI and realised how much they had in common, as well as how differently they were building their respective fashion brands. What unifies them is a passion for designing and making clothes, but that's hard to do as a small brand. 
    Rather than tap out, they joined forces to establish Making Room (@making_roommcr), a micro-factory and open studio in Manchester, dedicated to ethical, onshore fashion manufacturing. It's about time that small brands can have their collections made in Cottonopolis again. In this episode, we discover the back story, the mission and what the future holds for the city's most accessible micro-manufacturer. 
    Did you enjoy the episode? Send us a text. 💬
    Subscribe now for new episodes every other Monday. Please take the time to rate and/or review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We cherish every rating and review. They help to ensure this project continues.

    Join Wear Abouts over on Instagram for bonus video content: instagram.com/wearabouts_pod
    You can also follow Manchester Fashion Institute on Instagram: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstitute

    And check out our courses here: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
  • Wear Abouts

    MellowClo Founder Ted Lloyd on Building a Hit Fashion Brand

    06/04/2026 | 39 mins.
    We're buzzing with this week's guest as our first Manchester Fashion Institute alumnus of the season joins us just as his brand goes stratospheric. 
    Ted Lloyd started the brand that would become MellowClo while studying BA Fashion Buying and Merchandising, but it was his experience working in the buying team at SEVENSTORE that really supercharged his understanding of how the industry works from a brand's POV. 
    This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has dreams of starting their own brand. Ted has been steadily building MellowClo for years, and he shares lots of incredible advice with us. 
    If you're not already familiar with MellowClo, find them on Instagram here: instagram.com/mellowclo. 
    Major props to our producer Evie, who stepped in to host this week, as Cat couldn't make it. We think she absolutely smashed it. Be sure to comment and/or review if you agree. 
    Did you enjoy the episode? Send us a text. 💬
    Subscribe now for new episodes every other Monday. Please take the time to rate and/or review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We cherish every rating and review. They help to ensure this project continues.

    Join Wear Abouts over on Instagram for bonus video content: instagram.com/wearabouts_pod
    You can also follow Manchester Fashion Institute on Instagram: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstitute

    And check out our courses here: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
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About Wear Abouts
Wear Abouts is a podcast from Manchester Fashion Institute that explores why fashion matters and how it fits into everyone’s lives. Hosted, produced, edited and scored by current students from across Manchester Metropolitan University, the show invites some of the fashion industry’s foremost voices to break down the issues, innovations and ideas that emerge from our relationship with clothing. Follow Wear Abouts on Instagram at: instagram.com/wearabouts_podFollow Manchester Fashion Institute at: instagram.com/mcrfashioninstuteor visit us at: fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk
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