Exploring the untold stories of Northern England's menswear heritage, Locating Menswear united communities to celebrate style, culture, and identity across Manchester and Liverpool.

The inaugural Locating Menswear Forum, held at Manchester Metropolitan University and Space Liverpool in July 2024, illuminated Manchester and Liverpool, two Northern cities with rich and complex relationships to menswear.  

The two-day event united Manchester and Liverpool’s communities, celebrating the distinctive styles, subcultures, and brands that have defined menswear within and beyond these regions. 

Building on an 18-month AHRC network grant, the forum brought academics, industry leaders, and fashion enthusiasts together. Led by Professor Andrew Groves, from the University of Westminster and Dr Jo Jenkinson from the Manchester Fashion Institute, the forum challenged conventional ideas of authority and expertise in menswear.  

Limited academic research on menswear was addressed with an eagerness to foster a community interested in exploring this overlooked area of fashion history. The forum’s sessions addressed issues like the functional and biographical aspects of menswear, the cultural politics of leisure, and the deep personal attachments people form through clothing. 

The event spanned two days, exploring fashion’s cultural and functional impact in Northern England. Day 1 in Manchester delved into menswear’s evolution, featuring discussions on brands like C.P. Company and Fred Perry, as well as underrepresented narratives such as Hull’s “shore suits” and Caribbean migrants’ style. Key themes included challenging traditional masculinity, subcultural identities, and working-class resourcefulness in fashion. Day 2 at Space Liverpool highlighted emotional connections to fashion, from Andrew Ibi’s exhibitions celebrating Black heritage to Dr Jenkinson’s insights on youth identity and belonging. Trainer culture was a focal point, with the Nike Air Max 95 symbolising local pride and fashion’s accessibility. 

Closing Reflections  

The forum concluded with a compelling spoken-word performance by writer and Liverpool native PJ Smith. His piece, Le Croc Monsieur, detailed his journey to Marseille in pursuit of the world’s largest Lacoste collection, encapsulating Liverpool’s passionate relationship with sportswear.  

As the forum ended, Professor Groves and Dr. Jenkinson emphasised the importance of bringing academic attention to Northern menswear. Thanks to the generous support of SEVENSTORE, the event showcased the power of community-driven spaces to merge local and global influences. 

Looking ahead, Locating Menswear aims to continue as an annual gathering, uncovering the gaps in menswear knowledge.