A new fashion event is happening in Liverpool city centre this December, showcasing local independent brands.

Fabric Liverpool will feature a range of clothing businesses who usually sell online, giving owners an opportunity to sell in person and meet customers.

It’s been created by David Hassall, who launched his own streetwear brand Hass a year ago. He says he was looking for ways to promote his own collections and struggled to find anything in Liverpool that fitted so he decided to set one up.

He explains:

“I’m just obsessed with clothes, I always have been, so I started by own clothing brand 12 months ago, selling through a website and promoting it on Instagram and Facebook.

“I did a small event in Walton on August Bank Holiday because I thought it would be a good way to get the brand out there and to engage with customers and it went really well.

“Once I’d done that I was looking around to try and get involved in some more, but I couldn’t really find anything that was just for clothing. There were vintage and makers markets but nothing specifically to promote a fashion brand.

“There are so many local brands on Instagram now, hundreds around Merseyside, so I had the idea for Fabric Liverpool. I was going to wait until next year but I’m quite impatient so I thought I’d just do it!”

36-year-old David, who’s from north Liverpool, combines running Hass with his day job working as a machine operator in a factory.

“I’m lucky with my hours because I work 6am-2pm so I can get up at 4am and do what I need to do on the business before I go to work, sending emails to the manufacturer, and then once I finish I can do more on designs and concepts.”

He contacted Thomas Rigby’s pub on Dale Street to hold the first event in their courtyard, then got in touch with other fashion brand owners.

“I looked around for ones I thought were right for what I wanted to do, reached out to them on email and they jumped at the chance. The response was a lot better than I expected, I’ve actually had to turn brands down and I’ve got some on standby.

“I think people sometimes worry about ordering from a local brand because they think it might not turn up or there’ll be something wrong but these brands look unbelievable, they could be sold in any department store, they’re that good.”

David is planning to have seven or eight brands showing off their collections at Fabric Liverpool including his own which has already expanded since it launched.

He said:

“Mine started off with caps and beanies and then I progressed into T-shirts and tracksuits, just regular streetwear that lads in Liverpool would wear,”

“I’ll have some sample pieces at the event, tracksuit pants and lightweight jackets, to see how they go, and some of the other brands have told me they’ll be dropping new items at the event which is superb.

“I think that’s one of the attractions about an event like this because there will be a chance to buy some limited pieces. You could go to one of the big sports shops and buy a tracksuit and you can guarantee there are thousands of people around Britain who’ll have it. With these brands they’re rare items so not that many people will be able to get their hands on them.”

There’ll be a DJ at Fabric Liverpool, which is on Saturday December 9 between 12pm and 5pm, and food available from Thomas Rigby’s and the Lady of Mann.

If it’s a success, David is aiming to make it a regular event to support local fashion brands and bring them together with customers.

“Some of them have already asked me to let them know if I do another one and I think twice a year is perfect, so hopefully we’ll have one around May/June as well.”

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