Renegade Marmalade

We all know by now that I like my clothes quirky. I’m always banging on about vintage this, unique that, retro this, customised that. So when my recruitment agent friend, expert in all things Northern Quarter pointed me in the direction of his mate’s shop Renegade Marmalade, I was transfixed.
It’s a women’s clothing boutique which opened in December 2008. Its founder, Victoria Jackson, used to work in the fashion industry as a model booker and found herself irritated with high street retailers and limited options for city shoppers. What she’s managed to do is find unusual labels not stocked anywhere else in Manchester and relatively unknown and new designers, resulting in a shop that’s both independent and fierce yet feminine and playful — hence the funky name. It’s all very exclusive and one-​off, so be careful… these things can cost you. Prices range from around £20 to £700.
Hudson Jeans (as modelled by Angelina Jolie), Ann Hagen, Hemyca, Uno de 50 (a Spanish jewellery designer which only makes fifty of every item to be sold around the world)… these are brands you might not have heard of but they’ve graced the bods of Hollywood actresses. It’s all varied and eclectic stuff meaning there’s something for everyone, and gosh, is it pretty. The Northern Quarter’s heavily dominated by vintage shops while the high street is wholly homogenised… Renegade Marmalade is the solution if you’re getting sick of both. Plus Victoria only buys a small amount of each thing, meaning you’re hardly likely to walk down the street and bump into someone else wearing it.
They’ve even got Bolongaro Trevor which makes me super excited as this is the designer behind All Saints’ cutting edge, unusual tailoring. If you’ve had enough of not being able to pull together an unusual look, a trip to Renegade Marmalade will be worth your while. Just make sure you padlock your wallet after the first round.

Renegade Marmalade is bloody brilliant, the only thing that is totally gutting about this shop, is that fact that my bank balance only allows me the one item per vist and leaves me coveting nearly everything I leave behind! I must admit, I am not all over the fashion industry and was not familiar with most of the labels when this shop opened at the end of 2008, they stock designs from the likes of Anne Hagen, Pretty Disturbia, Lie Down I Think I Love You and Uno De 50.
This is a boutique that really does meet the demands of women looking for stunningly beautiful designer clothes and jewelery, most of the designs are stocked in a few sizes each… and that is it.
The shop is completely beautiful, and the clothes are generously spaced out. You don’t have to be one of the «beautiful people» to shop here either, I have walked in looking rather shabby to say the least in my favorite Noël Gallagher army mac, and still been treated as well as someone in head to toe couture!
Some of the clothes are a bit pricey, but they are the one-​off pieces for special occasions, you can find reasonably priced items of everyday wear though.