Over the past year we've seen far too many of our local favourite's close down, too many nationwide alternative shops and boutiques have had their close their doors and we've lost many an independent hub for alternative talent. Let's not have this happen, all too often, especially in more sheltered UK towns, have alternative shops had to close their doors due to high rates, lack of custom, or simply too much competition with people turning to the internet instead.
Of course we've got to support alternative talent where and when we can, but alternative shops, boutiques, hairdressers, tattooists, clubs, and pubs are at the heart of the scene. The places where we can go to try out new styles, be introduced to the alternative scene, and even just simply network with each other.
Usually we run an end of year round up, but this year after sitting down and realizing just how many of our local shops had closed down across the North west we decided that it was time to round up some support for the local alternative scene, not just in our area but across the UK.
My local alternative shops were where I first got to explore more of the alternative scene and style, from raiding long running local shop Lee Louise for hair dye stock piles and jewellery, to visiting places further afield that we've long since lost (in one form or another) from Kensington market, to the Corn exchange, & the closer to home, Quiggins. Places that were key hubs for their areas, where you could happily spend a Saturday shopping, socializing, or just getting a new piercing.
With this campaign we simply want to remind our readers of their local hubs, if you've got a local shop you can pop down for a tub of dye, a dash of blue mascara, & some new bcr's, don't forget that they're there to grab your regular essentials from. Of course we're not getting you to turn away from the internet, you can find items that aren't available in your home town, through to bespoke attire that just isn't readily available near you. Heck you can even find local designers, and talent to team up with thanks to the internet. We just want to remind you that your local alternative is out there.
We want you to support your local alternative this year in whatever way you can, be it drumming up business by recommending them to friends, popping their details up on the net (you can even submit local shops to us for inclusion in our directory), and of course remembering that they're there whenever you need them.
As part of our campaign you can get involved by taking our banner for your site, page, or profile online. You can even get in touch if you'd like to take on a few of our campaign stickers for your local, or to distribute.
We're doing our part too, by helping out the local alt scene where we can.
We're already proud sponsors of Dr Sketchy's North Wales, & we've been taking our campaign out across the North West from lending support to Gostins shopping mall's Mad hatter tea party, to promoting local events from artist exhibitions to vintage fairs.
We've even helping to promote local talent with features of Northern designers in our latest edition of Alt fashion magazine, to even putting on our own summer fair.
& we'll be doing even more over the upcoming months to help support our local alternative, as well as helping promote your local area too.
Grab our banner for your site:
For larger versions, or press ready campaign graphics drop a line to: leona [at] altfashion.co.uk
