To launch our Manchester Heart of Fashion campaign, CityCo organised the Best of Manchester Fashion Awards 2010, recognising the city’s strong, diverse retail industry.

The event, organised by CityCo as an Urbis Legacy Project, returned for the fourth year. The ceremony was timed to coincide with the launch of our Manchester Style Guide, and aimed to help kick-start the careers of talented individuals by offering professional development and contacts.

2010’s three award categories were:

New Designer – an award dedicated solely to acknowledging Manchester’s exceptional graduate talent
Small Independent Retailer – celebrating smaller businesses and individual designers and their invaluable contribution to the economic, cultural and artistic landscape of the city
Lifetime Achievement in Fashion – to reflect Manchester’s past impact and huge, inimitable influence.

The panel of judges included:

Peter Saville, Manchester’s Creative Director
Dolly Jones, Vogue.com
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council
Claire Lomax, Co-founder, Flux Magazine
Jessica Lowe, Press and Marketing Manager, Harvey Nichols
Rob Warner, Design Director, Umbro
Helen Tither, Woman’s Editor, Manchester Evening News
Oscar Pinto Hervia, Creative Director of Hervia Baazar and Hervia Ltd

The winners announced at the ceremony, held in St Ann’s Church, were:

New Designer – Kirsty Payne, 21, graduate in fashion design from the University of Salford
Small Independent Retailer – Junk Shop, the Northern Quarters’ winning eco-logical fashion brand
Lifetime Achievement in Fashion – Gerardine Hemingway, one half of the formidable partnership with her husband Wayne, creating the world-famous brand Red or Dead.

The event was attended by over 200 of Manchester’s major players and members of the fashion and retail community.

View images

Read press releases

• Best of Manchester Awards Short-List Announced – 11.10.2010

• Best of Manchester Awards – and the Winners are… – 15.10.2010