Oi Polloi
Shopkeeper
Coordinates
53.4836156° N, -2.2356154° W
Address
63 Thomas Street
Manchester
M4 1LQ
Website
www.oipolloi.com
Contact
shop@oipolloi.com
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 831 7870
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In Manchester’s Northern Quarter, you’ll find a cluster of creative independents including menswear store Oi Polloi. Established in 2002, Oi Polloi is the brainchild of sartorially minded Mancunians Steve Sanderson and Nigel Lawson. The original store opened on Tib Street after the pair became tired of the stale and uninspiring menswear scene that lingered in the city during the early noughties. Under the moniker ‘talent borrows, genius steals’, Oi Polloi established itself as a unique brand and store that quickly became an enviable clothing destination and world renowned name.
With a comprehensive understanding of menswear, Sanderson and Lawson tenaciously scour the globe for the world’s best clothing, all the while maintaining their commitment to form and function with an emphasis on heritage, quality and style.
The pair have shunned fast fashion in favour of slow production and as a result, Oi Polloi boast a varied mix of quality international labels including the likes of Baracuta, Barbour, Fjällräven, Sunspel and Woolrich Woollen Mills. The store is also one of few stockists to hold pieces by Engineered Garments, Post O’alls and OrSlow and by championing sought-after classic and contemporary labels, Oi Polloi has helped to bring rare and interesting brands to the heart of Manchester.
It didn’t take long before Oi Polloi outgrew their Tib Street space and in 2009 they moved around the corner to Thomas Street. Inside, the space complements the discerning edit of clothing and footwear with thoughtfully placed light wooden rails and shelving. The interior of the store was designed by locally furniture and interior designer Peter Masters and includes a neatly custom-built footwear wall. With a commitment to selling ‘stuff they like’, Oi Polloi's tightly edited selection keeps them ahead of the crowd.
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Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday
10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday
12:00noon – 5:00pm
Nearest Train Station
Manchester Picadilly Station
Nearest Bus Station
Thomas Street
Words by Lee Fleming
Photography by Michael Gannon
(Taken with a Nikon D800)
