White Label clothing

Where is it?
53 Church Street
Manchester
M4 1PD
Tel: 0161 833 3666
http://www.whitelabelclothing.co.uk

Opening times:
Monday – Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 12pm – 5pm

History:
White Label was founded in 2002 by Tim Shaw, who originally set up shop in Afflecks Palace in the Northern Quarter. Before long, the store quickly outgrew its roots and moved to nearby Church Street.

Selling dynamic and distinctive menswear items for those wanting to stand out from the crowd, this independent shop has built up a national customer base of trendy men looking for one-off designs.

What does it sell?
Logo emblazoned tees in every colour imaginable, with the promise of a limited edition prints too. White Label sells menswear with a cheeky edge and humorous appeal, mainly referencing street art and modern culture. T-shirts prices range from £19 - £35. The store also sells plaid shirts, jeans, printed jumpers, jackets and accessories.

Who shops there?
White Label isn't just for Northern Quarter hipsters; it's for men who want to dress individually, with an emphasis on style and exclusively. The shop doesn’t have a womenswear section, however many of the sweatshirts and T-shirts appear to be unisex and come in small sizes.

White Label also attracts a celebrity clientele including musicians as varied as Ian Broudie (The Lightening Seeds) to rapper The Game, plus local footballers and Corrie actors.

Why shop there?
Sick of the same boring high street T-shirts? This shop only makes a maximum of 250 tees in a particular style. With such a wide and varied selection, it's impossible to pop into the store and come out empty handed. A particular advantage is that all garments are made and printed locally, either in-store in Manchester, or uptown in Leeds. With the use of vinyl flex used in a selection of T-shirts, this means the print doesn’t peel or fade after its first wash. We’re particularly fond of the Adidas leaf logo made up of tiny Nike tick logos. With plenty more of these type of tongue-in-cheek designs, manager Ian also adds “the store is for people who don't take themselves or life too seriously”.

Future:
With an upcoming expansion to Brighton, White Label is continuing to spread itself north and south. Looking to expand their designs, White label is also welcoming guest designers to bring in new ideas and concepts to the store.

Verdict:
From humble beginnings, this store is now one of the prime independent retailers in the North. A store opening in the South is proof that White Label is gathering customers from all over the country and gaining a cool reputation among stylish males.