Astrid & Miyu’s New Manchester Store Reflects the City’s Bustling Vibe

By Karen Dybis | February 10, 2025

London-based jewelry brand Astrid & Miyu recently opened a boutique in Manchester, responding to customer demand for a store in this northern England city with the perfect spot inside its iconic Royal Exchange building.

“We have been wanting a stand-alone store in Manchester for a long time now but wanted to make sure the unit was the right one,” says Shannon Hatfield, global store design manager for Astrid & Miyu. “It has been a worthwhile wait as Market Street is a really stunning location.”

Within the store at 18 Market St. (which opened Feb. 1), Muses—as the brand affectionately calls its customers—can find a full array of Astrid & Miyu‘s signature jewelry, along with piercing, welding, and tattoo services in two specially designed studios.

Astrid Miyu interior Manchester — *Special touches in Astrid & Miyu’s Manchester store, like redbrick tile, connect with the city’s heritage.*

The color palette reflects the jeweler’s flagship boutique in London, known as the House of Astrid & Miyu, says Hatfield. But the company also wanted Manchester to have its own interior design touches, such as a redbrick tiled wall and built-in soft seating.

“Market Street has a pretty vibrant and bustling vibe, especially during the day. It’s a major shopping street in the city center, so you’ll see a lot of people out and about, whether they’re popping into stores, grabbing a coffee, or just walking around with friends. The vibe is urban and energetic—think chain stores, high street brands, and lots of people,” Hatfield says.

To match that energy, cedar red is the main hue in the Manchester boutique, including a wall of tiles resembling the city’s redbrick architecture, says Hatfield. She chose natural wood floors to warm up the space, and brought in decorative lights in antique brass to represent Manchester’s industrial heritage.

Astrid Miyu piercing Manchester — *Astrid & Miyu provides a private, comfortable atmosphere for Manchester clients getting pierced, welded, or tattooed.*

Hatfield wanted the boutique to feel relaxing, especially because customers coming in for a piercing or tattoo may feel a bit nervous.

“We always design the studios with nice lighting as this can really change the whole atmosphere, making it feel more cozy and less clinical,” she says. “Our welding stations are positioned within the retail space itself and always have their own little nook to create those extra special moments for our customers. Often these appointments come with a lot of meanings and personal milestones, so our aim always is to create the most warm and pleasant space around them.”

To offer Manchester customer something that highlights their community, Astrid & Miyu CEO Connie Nam designed an exclusive charm and tattoo. The tattoo is a small bee with special wing details.

The brand—founded by Nam in 2012 from her Notting Hill apartment—has also debuted its latest collection, Serendipity, in time for Valentine’s Day. Inspired by the “red string of fate” theory, which states that those who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible red string, jewels feature bezel-set red stones.

Top: Astrid & Miyu opened its Manchester, England, store on Feb. 1. (Photos courtesy of Astrid & Miyu)