- Work Hard
- 22nd Oct 2025
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From Sam Fender’s jacket to Dr Martens collab: Newcastle designer puts North East fashion forward
The fashion world might revolve around London, Paris and Milan — but Newcastle designer Corey Dixon is proving the North East can more than hold its own.
As the creative mind behind Somebody Else’s Guy, Corey has built an eco-conscious, gender-neutral label that turns heads on red carpets, catwalks and glossy magazine pages – all from her small city-centre studio.
Her brand’s mission? To make couture accessible, sustainable and unapologetically individual. Each piece is hand-crafted from upcycled fabrics, transforming forgotten garments into bold, one-of-a-kind statements.
SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY: SUSTAINABLE STYLE WITH NORTHERN SOUL
Corey’s designs have graced the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Vanity Fair, and her client list includes red-carpet regulars who turn to her for something with edge, story, and soul.
Her work has been seen at the BRIT Awards, BAFTAs, and even during London Fashion Week, where her distinctive mix of couture craftsmanship and recycled materials stood out among the crowd.
“It still blows my mind when I see something I’ve made in a magazine or on a red carpet. It started with me upcycling clothes in my bedroom — now I’m creating pieces for Sam Fender. That’s wild.”
she laughs.
And Corey is currently working with Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin this year, as featured on This Morning and It Takes Two – keep an eye out for her pieces.
Despite her growing success, Corey is passionate about keeping her brand rooted in Newcastle. “There’s so much creativity up here,’ she says. “I love that I can represent the North East in an industry that often overlooks it.”
<span class="s1">READ MORE ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY </span>
THE SAM FENDER MOMENT
One of Corey’s biggest turning points came when Sam Fender’s stylist reached out after spotting one of her reworked Newcastle United shirts online.
‘She messaged and asked if I’d make something for him for his tour — and I was like, absolutely yes!’ Corey says, smiling. ‘I ended up creating a custom Harrington jacket and shirt, both upcycled and tailored to his style.”
Sam Fender wore his custom Harrington jacket on his biggest gig to date at London Stadium but is still yet to wear his shirt – watch this space.
The collaboration, rooted in local pride, sparked a creative wave that inspired Corey’s new Geordie NUFC-inspired pieces — a range inspired by that same blend of grit, identity and individuality.
‘Sam’s such a symbol of the North East,’ she says. ‘That moment really connected everything — music, fashion, and where we’re from. I’ve had loads of messages asking me to make Sam’s jacket because people loved it, but it goes against what I’m all about — creating one-of-a-kind pieces.’
And Sam did follow her on Instagram… future collabs – who knows?
HIGH LIFE NORTH LOVES:
DR MARTENS X SCHUH X SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY
And just recently, Corey’s had her biggest collaboration yet — with Dr Martens and Schuh.
“Dr Martens reached out about their new ZebZag boot,’ she explains. ‘The whole campaign celebrates individuality and comfort — that idea that fashion is for embracing what you’re comfortable in”
As part of the launch, Corey hosted a workshop in London for the brand, bringing together influencers to explore what “comfort” means in fashion. “We’re creating mood boards, talking about personal style and identity — it’s all about self-expression,” she says.
If you’ve been to Eldon Square or Metrocentre Schuh stores, we’re sure that you’ve seen Corey’s face on the digital billboards; these are being featured in stores across the UK too.
“I walked through the Metrocentre, saw the video playing and saw my face on it — I didn’t even expect it,” she says. ‘To see the scale of the campaign… it was surreal. As you know, after losing my mam inspired me to set up my brand and she actually wore Dr Martens on her wedding day. So this campaign was quite sentimental as I always want to do her proud”
“I can’t switch off. There’s always another idea, another piece, another story to tell.”
5 YEARS OF SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY
Next year marks five years of Somebody Else’s Guy, and Corey has big plans. From Saturday 28th February – Sunday 15th March, there will be a Somebody Else’s Guy exhibition at Fenwick Newcastle that will showcase her brand’s journey — from her first handmade piece to the red-carpet looks that put her on the map.
“It’s going to be a proper celebration,’ she says. ‘A bit of history, a bit of fashion and full of love. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support over the past five years; it means the world.”
And while people keep telling her to stop and take it all in, Corey admits she’s already thinking ahead.
“I’m just getting started.”
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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