In recent years, Manchester has become somewhat of a fashion hotspot, with the emergence of e-commerce fashion companies like Lavish Alice and PrettyLittleThing, which were established in this northern powerhouse city. With the UK fashion industry now worth an estimated £28 billion, it is no wonder that Manchester companies have delved into such a thriving sector.
The continuous growth of fast fashion, which is the process of producing mass amounts of inexpensive fashion items in the online retail market, has resulted in several changes that have benefited the city of Manchester. Here are some ways in which the fashion e-commerce sector has helped the people of Manchester.
Job Opportunities
According to the British Fashion Council, the UK fashion industry has contributed £50 billion to the economy and has resulted in the employment of almost 900,000 workers. This has resulted in a significant increase in job opportunities in Manchester’s digital industries and is the reason why many graduates have re-located to the city.
One of the top e-commerce fashion brands in Manchester is Boohoo, which has continued to expand and even buy out several fast fashion brands like MissPap. By doing this, they are close to achieving their aim of being able to clothe everyone in the UK, but to reach this goal, they need the workforce to do so. Brands like Boohoo are continually recruiting for the next new pool of talent, including everyone from fashion buyers and merchandisers to content writers and administration.
Housing Demand
Naturally, the increase in jobs and population has resulted in a massive demand for properties, including homes, central apartments and student accommodation. This has enabled the government to begin regeneration projects throughout Manchester, to provide adequate housing for old and new residents.
Many investors have recognised Manchester’s potential, which is why they have chosen properties in areas like Central Manchester near the Northern Quarter. This is ideal for young professionals looking to be close to workplaces like Boohoo. Property experts like RW Invest have several properties available in the city centre, as well as Salford, where Media City is located. This is bound to attract everyone from fashion graduates to industry veterans who are looking to be close to opportunities in the e-commerce capital.
Strong international relations
Manchester’s fast-growing fashion industry has enabled powerful connections with businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Europe and beyond. This is due to the quality of the city’s digital sectors, which have allowed the fashion industry in Manchester to be accessed worldwide through websites and apps. Companies like Missguided have gone from delivering locally to sending regular shipments to Australia, and they have even recently opened stores in Asia.
These business relationships have allowed Manchester to be recognised as one of the most renowned cities in the world, which has massively increased its number of visitors and tourists. This has also resulted in overseas and government funding being given to the digital sectors, which will generate further growth within the city and present more opportunity for start-ups and established companies.
