The General Store on Deansgate in Manchester played host to another Brands of Manchester event and welcomed new brand Mononoko into their premium retail space last Thursday night. The red carpet was rolled out, the champagne was on ice and the expectations were high for the introduction collection from Mary O of Mononoko, exclusively for General Store.

The capsule collection currently on offer features a diverse range of women’s summer wear from holter mini dresses in tribal, vibrant prints to jump suits where silhouettes have been redefined with sculptural trousers and high, tight waists. Mary will be adding to the collection throughout its three month stint in the General Store and promises customers to expect more from the ethnic: “I have been taking on a lot of North African and Moroccan influences’. By far the most exciting and talked about element of the collection were the earrings, which have become something of a statement of the Mononoko brand. The earrings, ranging in size, are large baubles which are decorated in bright tribal patterns and can be worn as a pair or singularly. When asked if the earrings are an example of the new North African injection into Mononoko Mary laughed and said ‘no... I don’t know where they came from, they’re just random!’ The larger earrings retail at £35 for the pair and the smaller £25 and are available at General Store alongside the rest of the collection.

Models strutted the store floor in examples of Mononoko’s range, styled to perfection with big hair and even bigger make-up, courtesy of Urban Decay. The ladies from the Manchester Market Street branch of Debenhams were on hand with their Deluxe Pallet in hand to provide bold and bright make-up for the Mononoko showcase, ‘and that’s what we specialise in’ says Anna of Urban Decay. Anna gave MFN a quick demonstration of the products on offer and which were used in styling the models. Anna told MFN that Urban Decay in Manchester Market Street Debenhams offer full make-overs for just £20.00 which is redeemable on product purchases, the ladies also offer master classes in make-up, false lash application and more. Visit the dedicated Manchester Urban Decay Facebook group here to find out about the next master class.

Anna let MFN in on a few little secrets regarding the upcoming Urban Decay range too, which will include a New York themed pallet, out on the 28th of August, ‘which is very dynamic ... and will include some new colours’ and a Naked Pallet for all ages and skin tones which is ‘selling out mad’ in the USA. The most talked about product of the night, however, was the All Night Fixer Spray. Anna told MFN that the spray is ‘so good because it holds your make-up in place for sixteen hours... it’s made for clubbing but it’s perfect for the gym too’.

MFN would like to wish Mary and Mononoko all the best of luck in their new temporary home and urges all readers to check out the new collection in General Store, before it sells out!

Words by Jordan McDowell, images by Anna J Westerman

If you would like to read more about this event see Jordan's personal blog post here

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