With the launch of our ‘88 BODA SKINS x Peter J. Walsh capsule just around the corner, we wanted to transport you back to the Acid House Summer of Love back in 1988 and share the inspiration behind our brightest collection yet, that is, Manchester's revolutionary club culture.
We’re proud to call Manchester our home, for many reasons, but most importantly the impact it's had on music, fashion and youth culture throughout the decades, across our city and beyond. Manchester came to completely revolutionize the club scene back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, giving rise to the birth of acid house and rave culture, leaving such a mark that it’s grown to be a part of Manchester's DNA. When you think of Manchester, musical legends such as Oasis, the Stone Roses, the Smiths, Happy Mondays and New Order, to name only a few, probably spring to mind. There’s no doubt that even outside of the establishment of the house and techno community, Manchester has long defined British music.
Before ‘Madchester’ came to breathe a new lease of life and energy into the city, clubbing in Manchester was a completely different experience, a divided and more relaxed one to say the least. ‘Madchester’ was used to describe the new and diverse sounds and fashions captivating Manchester’s nightlife at the time, which built its own unique identity through a mix of rock ‘n’ roll, psychedelic 60s pop, disco, funk and eventually acid house.
The beauty that came with this new generation of music, particularly acid house and rave culture, is that it brought people together from all walks of life. Individuality was welcomed and celebrated. The club became a desexualised place, where open-minded spirits came to meet and connect through dance. People would travel from all over the country to quite literally dance the nights away in the city’s notorious clubs. This leads us to the Haçienda… the birth of rave culture and acid house. Founded in the early 80’s by New Order and their record label, Factory, taking heavy influence from iconic American clubs such as Danceteria. In the early days, the Haçienda was host to huge names, embracing performances from 80s legends such as the Smiths and Madonna, yet it wasn’t until the introduction of house music in the late 80’s that its popularity came to soar - an era now known as the second Summer of Love.
It was the first time the Haçienda was full, 7 days a week. It was one of a kind, offering a completely different clubbing experience in Manchester, with house and techno completely overpowering the warehouse's poor acoustics. It wasn’t long before euphoric house and piano melodies were pouring out the doors of clubs and echoing down the streets of Manchester. People embraced a new lease of freedom, leaving dress codes at the door and bringing street-centric clothing to the dance floor. Baggy trousers, t-shirts and trainers never looked so good. Inclusivity was at the forefront of this new club culture, there was a sense of togetherness that made you feel like you really belonged and finally a shift in attitudes towards race, sex and gender.
There’s no doubt that club culture in the late 80’s and early 90’s was completely innovative. Take the likes of Hidden, the Warehouse Project and the White Hotel, to name a few, who strive to replicate the same energetic spirit, sound and aesthetic of Manchester’s acid house heyday.
We’re proud to be able to infuse our ‘88 collection with this energy and spirit, to ultimately, carry on the legacy of Manchester's revolutionary club culture.
Shop the '88 by Peter J Walsh capsule.
