We all have our favourite places close to home, but what if you could go beyond your own city and see what others love about theirs? Our brand-new series, MYcity gives you the inside scoop, revealing the hidden gems of each city through the eyes of our very own Offspring Community members.
Next up on our MYcity Series, Community member @ehsanseraj aka Ehsan chats through what the city of Manchester means to him.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hey guys (YouTuber style welcome) I am Ehsan a fully-fledged Mancunian. I work as a Data Architect in the Civil Service. Outside of work I am a sneaker enthusiast, Manchester United fan, and normal/nerdy guy.
What was it like growing up in Manchester?
Hailing from the outskirts of Greater Manchester usually consisted of returning home from school and one of a few things, watching one of the five tv channels prior to getting the elusive satellite tv or it would be hanging out with mates if the weather was good, playing football and waiting to be called in or all going to a mates and playing on either the Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive, Nes or Snes! At weekends it would consist of the same or heading to town as a group and roaming around the city centre spending whatever spends we had!
Regarding fashion and culture what do you remember as a young kid growing up in Manchester?
As a youth athleisure style clothes were the style of many including myself. I remember flying through many Nike trainers. I never seemed to learn my lesson when it came to looking after them. I had multiple pairs of Nike Cortez which all suffered with ill-fated heel burn. Our style was mainly sports jackets like the Nike Wind runner, but we did wear occasional adidas and Kappa jackets too.
Another silhouette that had prominence for a while in Manchester when I was young was the Reebok Classic, I remember owning the Reebok Classic with the ice ripple sole, so as you can imagine I was overjoyed when Offspring brought out their recent Reebok collab. Fun fact: Reebok was founded in Bolton in 1958 by Jeff and Joe Foster.
Tracksuits were a go to in our early teens. Similar to the MYcity Birmingham article, our style evolved over the years and as we got older. Fred Perry was another one that many people wore, quite fitting with Fred Perry being born in 1909 and spending his early life in Greater Manchester (Stockport), we always seem to back one of our own.
Where did you hang-out back then, did it spark up an interest for you? Has it changed?
Other than near our houses, we used to hang around the town centres. Looking in shops sitting in McDonalds when they had straws at the till! It was always a great day out to be with your friends shopping etc and just living in the moment no technology distracting us! We’d roam around the city centre and go and do things like cinema or bowling. Therefore, dressing good was always a focus. I always wanted my best trainers to pair with a decent outfit. So, the footwear passion was engrained early on. However, back then I had to look after my belongings as I couldn’t go out and buy more all the time. That is probably why I still like to wear certain sneakers for best!
My trainer enthusiasm remained but it had to change as I couldn’t wear trainers on nights out, so my footwear love had to go into shoes to appease bouncers because as I got older the nightlife became more alluring. Manchester was always the big night out opposed to staying more local to our homes.
Whereas nowadays everything is Manchester focused. Not much happens on the outskirts just peoples’ locals and the focus are to go into town and for me usually more sociable day events at bars rather than the late-night clubs or the warehouse project! And now I can wear trainers out as the scene has changed – for the better!
In reference to culture and the fashion scene, how has your city developed to what it is?
The culture and fashion scene in Manchester is constantly evolving and draws parallel to the constant changes within Manchester and the fact the city is evolving. Represent and Native Youth formed roughly 10 years ago, followed by Gramm and one of the recent brands which is taking the mantle on further which is Clints.
Over the years Manchester scene has changed dramatically. This has shown in recent years with brands now using Manchester in collaborations, an example of this is the Nike Basement Air Max 90, it is very symbolic of the city and its weather.
This Collaboration also used Gramm who worked with The Basement to detail the 0161 in various ways on the sneaker. This is the culture now, from the once deemed scally look is now adopted quite heavily in streetwear and this is representative of the city.
Clints now fly the flag forward for the city, just last year they collaborated with Patta on a shoe and apparel release. These brands do live the ethos of Manchester and that we aren’t here just to make up the numbers. Those that I mention above are the brands that epitomise Manchester and the current scene.
Where do you like to shop these days?
Other than OFFSPRING, I find myself at such places like Note – the local skate shop, Carhartt, Uniqlo, Selfridges (Trafford and town) and Oi Polloi is cool too. Manchester has similarities to London in that we have various areas around the city that provide many individuals the type of shopping they are looking for. We have the high street in Market Street, The Northern Quarter, which is like Soho. This area includes Affleck’s Palace which has traits of Camden Town. Our version of Westfield would be the Trafford Centre.
I use the leisure scene more than shopping in Manchester by dining out and getting my haircut at RPB which is a cool independent brand that also is the home of hair products Alott. However, if you are a high street shopper there is so much shopping in the city centre and just a quick journey to The Trafford Centre too for even more!
What’s the food like in Manchester and what are your favourite spots?
I feel like I should bullet point this area of the interview. As I feel it is too hard just to name one. I would say if you ever in Manchester feel free to drop me a DM for recommendations based on cuisine. However, I will commit to a few spots. For big brand chains: Hawksmoor and Dishoom are great. Burgerism for a unique burger experience as fellow community member @colkil can confirm.
Vietshack – cool Vietnamese street food, Pollen – bakery/brunch spot, Sugo Pasta Kitchen – the name gives it away, and Mackie Mayor – is an indoor food market. These are all pretty much in the centre of Manchester and then we have Double Zero – a pizza spot in Chorlton. They are all great spots and if you fancy a drink, well my favourite is a Japanese izakaya style bar called Speak in Code which only seats ten tables and it currently ranks in the top ten cocktail bars in the UK.
Is there on thing that really defines your city?
The Manchester Bee is symbolic of our city. Highlighting our industrial history denoting our hard work ethic and that our city is a hive of activity. However, I would say it’s the people and the mentality of the people here. 2.8 million people call Greater Manchester home, whether you were born in Manchester or came here to study or for work etc it has aided in creating a diverse and multicultural city. We are a very welcoming city, we embrace all.
We have an inner resolve to always be together and welcoming after having suffered various atrocities as a city, we don’t let such things divide us and we continue as we did and solidify to enable us to move forward.
Then there is football, whether it be the noisy neighbours or a team that ruined many childhoods we are known for football and recognised globally for such. Football also displayed the Mancunian spirit in the achievements of Marcus Rashford, not only being a talented footballer but being conscious of the issues the country faced and doing something about it really is that spirit. Going back to fashion and culture, Gramm have recently announced that they are collaborating with the Emirates FA Cup!
Another aspect that defines Manchester is the music culture it runs strong in our DNA. Whether you’re singing ‘Watermelon Sugar, Back for Good, The Charming Man, Grounds for Divorce, Love will Tear us Apart’ or if you’re shouting Manny on the map or 0161 or even ‘looking back in anger’ you are aware of the presence, we have had on the music scene over many years and how we have influenced the world with our music.
Whether it be on the terraces where such songs have been changed into football chants or now on the grime scene seeing more Manchester artists being noticed for such music really defines us.
The music from this small region of the UK has defined many eras and been symbolic of styles and fashion and culture across the times too. Highlighted by Oasis collaborating with Adidas on various occasions delivering footwear and Spezial apparel highlights the impact of the music, and the scene has had.
We saw your entry for the Tom Sachs wearer trial. “We do things differently here”. What does your city do differently versus the rest of the UK?
It was the late Tony Wilson who said the phrase “This is Manchester, we do things differently here”, so I cannot claim to have made that up and nor would I. It is a statement all Manchurians carry with them.
Manchester is different because there is just something here that you cannot replicate. We have a disrupting nature that makes us achieve things that a small city shouldn’t.
The Suffragettes were formed in Manchester by Emmeline Pankhurst which led to women obtaining the right to vote. The birthplace of the first NHS Hospital. The first stored programme computer was achieved in Manchester in 1948. This was furthered by Sir Alan Turing leading this field at Manchester Victoria University he is one of a many honorary Manchurians! These are just a few of the achievements that are symbolic of Manchester and the impact we have had on the world. Whether its technological or it’s our arts or even rights this is us, this is that intangible Manchurian spirit.
So, in closing get yourself up to Manchester, minus the rain (it doesn’t rain all the time, I promise) I am sure you will end up having a great time and end up secretly loving the place!
Check out more from Ehsan on Instagram @ehsanseraj
Our MYcity Series aims to highlight various cities within the UK, imparting knowledge about its history, culture, fashion, art, food, and everything in between. If you would like to get involved and represent your city, contact: OffspringHQinfo@office.co.uk
