Lucy & Yak unveil plans for new, bigger Northern Quarter store

Officially opening on Sat 12 Sep, the team’s new Oldham Street home will be twice the size of its previous store. The new two-storey (ground and basement) shop will feature a full floor dedicated to PreLoved items, alongside two accessible fitting rooms and a wheelchair lift.

As part of the brand’s commitment to championing local creatives, Lucy & Yak has teamed up with Manchester-based illustrator, animator and designer Rick Hyde, who has created a bright, bold and playful artwork piece for the storefront.

The new store will actually first open its doors to shoppers on Thu 10 Sep, during Manchester Fashion Week, before officially launching with a party and ribbon-cutting on Sat 12 Sep.

To celebrate, shoppers can enjoy 20% off all day, meet Rick Hyde and see five pieces of his incredible artwork, as well as shop limited-edition totes and tees signed by Rick. There’ll also be the opportunity to customise pieces with Rick’s embroidered patches through an in-store Re:Yak Studio. The store’s first 100 guests will receive a goody bag, with sweet treats, prizes and surprises throughout the day.

The launch party will also be part of Manchester Fash­ion Week’s Northern Quarter Mash Up, which aims to celebrate the best of the area’s independent stores and creative culture with in-store activations and events.

Lydia Coley, Managing Director at the brand, said: “We love our Manchester community and can’t wait to welcome them into our new store on Oldham Street! There’ll be an entire 1,000-square-foot floor dedicated to PreLoved items – a first of its kind for us! – where shoppers can discover Yaks ready for a new home, as well as plenty of space to host our events programme, including our Re:Yak workshops. These workshops inspire new ways to mend and repair, helping to keep our clothes in circulation for longer.

We feel very at home in the Northern Quarter, a vibrant cultural hub that’s all about expression and the freedom to be yourself. It fits perfectly with our ethos to Be More You! We can’t thank Rick enough for bringing his incredible talent to our new storefront. His work felt like such a natural fit for Lucy & Yak, and we can’t wait for the city to see it!”

Rick Hyde, said: “Working with Lucy & Yak is a dream project. Their whole ethos is bright, positive, expressive and a little unexpected, which feels like a perfect match for my style. It’s been great working with the team, who have been really positive and have encouraged me to push the work towards its brightest, most joyful and exuberant end.

“The artwork is intended to be a psychedelic explosion of colour and joy, full of energy, with a proper sense of Manchester running through it. As a Mancunian artist, it’s an amazing opportunity to have my work displayed in the heart of the city I love, and to contribute to its cultural landscape. There are Manchester references throughout, everything from Frank Sidebottom to The Happy Mondays, alongside broader nods to the city’s rich musical and footballing heritage, all interwoven with Lucy & Yak’s positivity, inclusivity and celebration of individuality.”