A new Manchester interiors store is pioneering a fresh approach to sustainable retail.
Department, which is inspired by concepts from Stockholm and Barcelona, is the first in the North West to offer both vintage and contemporary furniture and accessories styled within a modern home setting.
The store, which occupies 157 sq ft premises on Chorlton’s Barlow Moor Road, acts as a showcase for a handpicked range of local designers, makers and dealers. It aims to provide an alternative to mass-produced homewares by offering unique pieces at accessible prices and meet the growing demand for more sustainable products.
Department offers a carefully curated collection of furniture, rugs, lighting, art and accessories including brands such as G Plan, Verner Panton and George Nelson, with prices ranging from £10 for an artisan soap to £500 for a mid-century armchair and £1,000 for an antique rug. It also offers a selection of pre-owned clothing including designer labels such as Marni, Margaret Howell, Jaegar and Jill Sander.
The store has been set up by Heather Linnitt, who founded the former Blackbird home store in Leeds and has also run a successful upholstery business for 20 years.
Heather says: “With limited choice on the high street, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to bring a sense of individuality to their homes and for products that are more sustainable. Department offers a different approach, by showcasing the work of local makers and upholsterers and encouraging the use of vintage furniture.
“Vintage not only makes sense from a recycling point of view, it is often better value. These items may cost little more than a flatpack piece yet are better quality and built to last. Department aims to inspire people to mix old and new to create a look that is more stylish and sustainable.”
Department is open from 11.00am to 5.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 11.00 till 6.00pm Saturday and 11.00 till 4.00 on Sunday.
