Manchester, a Northern powerhouse in itself, is on the brink of taking London’s crown for being the UK’s number one city for supreme youth culture. Manchester-based creatives are getting even more creative thanks to an increase in new businesses setting up shop there and agencies from the big smoke moving the 220 miles north to save. Save what? Money of course, but also their sanity as competition for innovation really has reached its peak in the capital.
Young Londoners are flocking there in their thousands (more than 68,000 people left London for Manchester between August 2013 and June 2014) due to highly unrealistic rents, huge travel costs and yes, that word again, gentrification. Now, Manchester’s youth scene is thriving, allowing room for young people to grow and innovate within their artistic field of choice. Here, we profile 5 young females making waves up North and proving that Manchester is a pivotal part of UK youth culture today, tomorrow and in the future.
Leimai Lemaow
Leimai Lemaow is a multi-tasking creative who describes herself as a Typographer, Painter, Clothing Designer and trainer lover. The iLL sessions is her online platform where she documents her life as a freelance artist covering her work, inspirations, the events she attends and the people she meets along the way. She is also set to launch her own clothing label, Toromai, which aims to be, ‘Embracing simplicity, uniting sophistication with a relaxed style.’
Caroline Dowsett
Caroline Dowsett is an illustrator who designs greeting cards, prints, ceramics, fabric and zines using inks and pencils, with a ‘sprinkling of digital.’ Her niche is beautiful murals, which includes a Simone de Beauvoir themed wall in Manchester. Dowsett’s work is influenced by nature, ‘life's simple pleasures and people who fuel me.’ Her impressive portfolio comprises of Oh Comely magazine, Anorak, The Skinny and even Virgin Atlantic. She has also exhibited at some of the best Manchester hotspots such as 2022NQ and AplacecalledCommon.
Hannah Louise
Hannah Louise is a fashion, style, beauty and lifestyle blogger, and fellow Mancunian. Known for her vibrant red tresses, she was shortlisted for ‘Best Personal Style Blog’ in Company Magazine ’s 2014 Style Blogger Awards. Louise is also a fresh law graduate, giving her additional pizzazz and a certain ‘je ne sais quois.’ She has been featured in many an influencer campaign for brands such as Schwarzkopf Live Color and is spotlighted regularly on sites including ASOS and Missguided for her unique personal style and influence amongst her peers.
Sorell Walsh
Sorell Walsh is Co-founder of Still Waters Run Deep and WMN RUN 100 – two creative communities of runners in Manchester. SWRD members run every Monday night at 19.00 and strive to provide an exciting alternative to traditional running clubs, driven by the sights and sounds of the exciting Manchester landscape. WMN RUN 100 is a women-focused collaborative that promote equality within sports via sporting events and frequent running clubs. Walsh ’s determination and warm spirit has been noted by big sports brands including Nike that support her every step.
Grace Oni Smith
Grace Oni Smith is somewhat of an underground celebrity in Manchester. A make-up artist, performance artist and DJ by trade, she performs in drag at art exhibitions and festivals including Manchester International Festival (the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events). Her uniqueness has got her noticed by big names in the media including i-D and Dazed Digital. Having moved from London nearly five year’s ago, she’s proud of the creative hub that Manchester has become, ‘Manchester has a thriving creative scene and with Media City and the BBC being located in Manchester now there have never been more opportunities.’
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