Subculture in the Spotlight: Manchester's Inaugural Alternative Fashion Week
Pretty Disturbia's Leesa Bertram O'Neill turns six days of independent fashion into a citywide celebration
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
For the true-blue fashion girlies among us, there's an intangible magic to fashion week that no shopping experience can replicate. Even your favourite boutique offers only a glimpse of what a designer envisions; on the runway, an entire creative vision comes alive. Music sets the emotional tempo as makeup and styling reveal the collection's beating heart, while models stalk the runway with an intensity that brings each look to life.
And then there's the intimacy of it all. You're witnessing the birth of something that may have taken years to imagine and months to create, among the very first people to see that vision fully realized. It's an experience you never forget.
You can imagine our excitement, then, when Manchester announced its inaugural Alternative Fashion Week, that took place October 20–25, 2026. Behind the ambitious undertaking was Leesa Bertram O'Neill, a Manchester Metropolitan University fashion graduate and the founder of independent alternative fashion label Pretty Disturbia.
Where Imagination Wanders: A Window to the Workbench of The Moon's Alibi
How designer Emma Rose transforms her innermost experiences into extraordinary works of wearable art
By: Amanda Albert
There is a profound sincerity to the way Emma Rose speaks about her art. The designer of The Moon's Alibi approaches her work with the curiosity of someone still discovering what she's capable of, and a reverence for the creative minds who have helped shape her ambitions. David Bowie's philosophy of pushing beyond one's comfort zone has become something of a guiding principle, while Alexander McQueen's deeply personal approach to design remains a source of admiration.
That philosophy has been a guiding light for Rose, illuminating the path to what has become a defining year in her creative journey. In 2026, she debuted her first runway collection, the culmination of more than a year's work in the studio and a dream she'd held since childhood. She also found herself confronting an unfortunate reality of independent design, speaking candidly about the emotional toll of design theft by a fast-fashion brand. Both experiences reveal an artist deeply invested in the integrity of what she creates.
Yet, perhaps the most compelling part of Rose's story is how intimately her creative evolution is connected to her own. Each new piece demands something of her technically and offers an opportunity to understand herself more fully. As she continues to explore what her art can become, the ambition remains personal: to keep challenging herself, honour the work and see just how far she can go.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Emma to explore the story behind The Moon’s Alibi, and how her pursuit of creative excellence continues to shape her journey as an independent designer.