New Vicky Martin Shop Opens

MANCHESTER-based fashion designer Vicky Martin has taken over the Barton Arcade shop unit formerly occupied by bridalwear boutique Cocu & Chadwick.

The current range in store is autumn/winter and Vicky also plans to introduce some bridal wear for those customers who arrive in search of  Cocu.

Roxanne Pallett

It's been 23 years since Vicky opened up in Manchester's old design centre. Still sticking to her original remit of designing eveningwear and sexy daywear, Vicky believes the design centre got her off to a good start.

She said: "I started out because of sheer stupidity really. I came out of college and worked freelance for a few companies. Then 18 months later I decided to start my own brand.

"You wouldn't do that if you sat and thought about it but at 23-years-old you just dont think. I got labels made and then started to produce clothes. I made them by hand myself until I got a machinist then we opened the first shop followed by the design centre. Within the first four years we had five shops. I dont even know how that happened.

"It worked though. There were so many independent designers in Manchester back in the late 80s. The design centre was amazing. We dont have anything olike that anymore. We really need to get that back."

Vicky Martin

They may still be waiting for their new shop sign, fixtures and "chairs for bored boyfriends to sit on" according to Vicky, but that didn't stop the party wear company from having a soft launch on Saturday - attended by Vicky Martin herself, customers and special guest Emmerdale actres, Roxanne Pallett.

Speaking about the new location, Vicky said: "We left the Triangle two years ago. Apart from the concession in Selfridges in the Trafford Centre we've had nothing else in Manchester over these last two years so it's really nice to be back in the city centre."

Visit www.vicky-martin.com for more information.