Bench opens concept store in Manchester

Young fashion and lifestyle brand Bench has opened a concept store in Manchester’s Northern Quarter with the aim of showcasing work from talented young people.

The store ties in with Bench’s ‘Self Made’ campaign, which champions young innovative people from jewellery designers to bike builders and the scheme offers applicants the opportunity to showcase and further their skills with prize funding and exposure through Bench branding, website and social media channels.

Designed to be a creative hub, the new store has transformed the large previously disused basement into a place for creative people to meet and mingle featuring meeting desks, screen projectors and a DJ booth. This space will also host exhibitions displaying the talents of the cultural innovators currently being showcased in the Bench autumn/winter 2012 campaign and brand book.

A number of exhibitions have already been planned including one to showcase Bench’s online poster design competition, which opens later this month, and local artist Moot, who has designed the artwork for the refit, will curate his own exhibition in November.