Fashion in motion: The Madchester movement (1985–96)

Abstract

This article studies the effect and affect of clothing when moving (walking, posturing, dancing) during a seminal period of Manchester, England’s music scene from 1985 to 1996, known as Madchester. The research explores the links between the city’s music scene and local youth fashion at a time when there was a shift away from traditional notions of subcultures towards something more fluid and positions Madchester as a pivotal point where there was an egalitarian coming together of individuals and groups under the umbrella of what has become known as rave culture. The term ‘fashion in motion’ has been established in this research to define the interaction of garment and wearer in movement and its visual result. The article investigates how Mancunian men participating in the Madchester scene made sartorial choices to enhance and respond to movement. Findings are based on oral evidence in the form of active interviews with Madchester-era key players, supported by analysis of contemporary images.