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Living in Liverpool and pursuing a fashion career has become a political statement
- Destined Magazine
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
“Your choice to build your career here is a statement against systemic neglect”
A piece which explores the political resistance of pursuing a fashion career in the city of Liverpool, by Destined Magazine editor Aleisha Petafi.
Ok, maybe you’re not quite understanding what I mean yet but picture this…
You're considering a fashion career for yourself in the North West, and Manchester's right next door (England's unofficial second capital city). It's undeniably a major hub of UK fashion e-commerce, dripping in that original gritty, indie music vibe from the Madchester days. Faded tees, rain-slicked leather, the works. Then, France’s (arguably) biggest fashion house, Chanel rolls in with a massive 2023 runway show, making it feel like the favourite child of the North-West cities. And we already know that there's a huge gap in funding between the two neighbouring cities, but the fact that a Chanel show was held there? Really just puts the icing on the cake...
Image: Patrick Mccdowell
London? Do I even need to elaborate on its significance in the fashion industry? Global talent is being birthed there left, right, and centre. 'Top' schools, international artists, the place is a known hub for resources and funding. Not to mention they have their own Fashion Week every season - I did unfortunately manage to fall for the London fashion propaganda myself and moved down there to study for a few years.
So, why aren't all of the Liverpool-based fashion designers, students, creatives, and retail workers fleeing to those cities? Deep down, we just don't want to… especially if you're Liverpool born and bred. Why should we go elsewhere because opportunities choose not to come up here?
There’s something quite beautiful about living in a ‘smaller’ city where everyone somehow knows everyone through someone else, and the fashion community here is no exception to that, despite there being a lot of people in the scene who aren’t actually from here. These people aren't left behind though, they're adopted into our spaces, and communities. Liverpool becomes their home.
In the latest issue of Destined Magazine, which releases this Thursday, I had the opportunity to interview a huge range of designers based in Liverpool. From students, to established couture label owners, each gave their insight on their struggles on running independent brands, their origin stories, and how they operate in the North-West.
In the issue 2 editors letter, I told a story of the time where I mentioned to my year 11 careers advisor that I wanted to pursue a career in fashion, and in order to do that I felt like I had to take a fashion course in college rather than continuing academically into sixth form. She strongly advised against this due to "lack of jobs, and opportunities", and after hearing similar stories from other creative friends in the city, it sounds like we all had some kind of universal experience.
But of course, we don't just have designers up here... We have a whole scene of people who specialise in different areas of fashion...
Believe it or not, the fashion scene in Liverpool is a lot more close knit than you may think. Last week, I went out for my friend Melissa-Kate’s birthday - she's the owner of Liverpool-based womenswear label 'Melissa-Kate', and the amount of fashion creatives from the city who showed up for her was overwhelming. I was sat around a table in a cocktail bar at around 10pm on a Thursday evening with designers, stylists, creators, MUA's, and fashion students. I felt right at home - literally. We all love each other, and we're all very much a community.
Not to mention that Liverpool's fashion is much more deeply rooted in local identity, and no matter how you dress it’s closely linked with the history of the city. In the way we dress themes of rebellion, regional identity, and economic struggle become very apparent. To state the obvious, we dress a lot less corporate, and less 'bland' than other cities, we also have a lot more alternative-dressing people than other northern cities, and of course our staple fashion pieces and brands which we've attached to Liverpool's wider style profile.
I've ran into a number of Scousers who claim that all fashion trends start in Liverpool, they make their point quite convincingly, and they wouldn't be wrong if we were talking about British high street fashion trends. When you realise this, it truly makes sense for us to have an established, funded, connected, and thriving fashion scene in Liverpool in the year of 2026.
I'd argue that remaining here becomes political when you're not giving into opportunities in cities where there is a greater focus on fashion. Instead, you choose to create, and use local opportunities, even if that's just something as small as basing your wider operations here. You're resisting, just like Liverpool as a city, and as a community has done for decades. If you're from here, just ask your Grandparents.
The way I see it, we're all doing what our families have done generationally, which is giving this city the benefit of the doubt. Yes we may be underfunded, and overlooked but we still remain hopeful and faithful that we're all helping each other build something meaningful, and new. Whilst embracing our cultural identity and pride which we believe can't be found elsewhere.
The amount of designers who I’ve seen move up here in the last few years is at such a rate I never thought I’d see, and I can guarantee they all have their individual reasons as to why, but at the end of the day they’re another number who have chosen not to let major fashion cities win. Building something important up here contributes to their brand identity the way living in London or other cities never could. Your choice to build a career here is a statement against systemic neglect.
By Aleisha Petafi
Any further thoughts on this piece? You can drop us a comment on @destinedmagazine on Instagram
If there are any Liverpool based brands or businesses opening fashion based opportunities and looking for advertisement, please get in touch! destinedliverpool@gmail.com
Issue 2 of Destined Magazine is available to pre-order here now for 2 more days - grab your copy quick! : https://www.destinedmag.com/product-page-static/issue-2-reality-print
Tickets to our Issue 2 launch party at Subrosa, Liverpool (With @Jinksartsco) - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/issue-2-magazine-launch-tickets-1986002026523
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