Bradford, it has to be said, is a pretty scruffy place to live. Not only that, but it's quite an embarrassing place to admit to. A friend of mine who has just gone to university, does not tell people he is from Bradford, but claims to live “just outside Leeds.”

I, on the other hand am pathetically proud and defensive of my home town. After all, I have lived here all my life, and have managed to have quite a good time (for most of it anyway).

The riots in July, 2001

Although the Bradford riots were sickening, frightening and, once again, embarrassing for the Bradfordians (and this is the majority) who had nothing to do with them (and, I suppose even more embarrassing for the Bradfordians who did), Bradford seems to have recovered itself, and the Council and (remotely intelligent) people of Bradford are striving to restore good race relations and eliminate racism and bigotry from our culturally diverse city.

This cultural diversity should be celebrated rather than protested against (like it is by some narrow minded, prejudiced people) and the sooner this is recognised by the people of Bradford, the better.

Unfortunately, Bradford, like anywhere else, is lumbered with those who harbour hatred and prejudice, and the only way this can be combated is to teach children, future generations, of the evils of racism and the wonderful things that one culture can have to offer another. Schools do attempt to put across this message, but parents have got to do the same, or else Bradford will remain a city of bigotry.

Forster Square retail park in Bradford

On a lighter note, which I cannot link seriously to the above paragraph and so am forced to sound a little skittish here, Bradford shops are RUBBISH. There is NO H&M…For a start, the selection of clothes shops is noticeably poor…basically consisting of Top Shop, River Island,
New Look, Wallis, Bay Trading, sports shops such as Allsports and a department store called Sunwin House.

However, for many Bradford people this lack of decent shops is not a problem. This paltry offering is their idea of decent shops… that, and Argos where they can buy their gold clowns on chains and their nasty, nasty sovereign rings.

Bradford fashion

I sometimes think Bradford has a fashion all of its own…a fashion I like to call “scutter.” In short, these Bradford fashionists' outfits must fulfil the following qualifications:

1. Lots of GOLD. The more the better. And the bigger the better. No pretty beads for the Bradford girls…

2. Lots of labels. Oh…and all clothing trends have to have been around for at least five years. Cutting edge is not the image these gals are going for.

3. Sportswear is a key “fashion” (I say fashion in the loosest sense of the word, and with a heavy dollop of irony) item… Adidas pants, Reebok classics , you get the gist.

4. Permed hair, and a very, very cocky and intimidating gang surrounding you ensures you’ll be the most stylish creature in Kirkgate Market (which is, by the by, rubbish).

Is Bradford's taste in fashion really so bad?

I apologise, I sound like a total snob but it's not a case of money as one does not need money to attain style… and I have very little money myself! Certainly not enough to spend three hundred pounds on a pair of Rockport boots (another scutter style essential) and if they weren't so scornful of those who do not conform to their ideas of “style”, I would not be so critical myself of these Bradford teens.

But for my friends to be called “dirty moshers” in the streets by these gold bedecked fools is too much for me to take! And for my lovely pink shoes and rather fancy tights combo to be laughed at on my local bus is really taking the biscuit. A girl can’t even wear a Duffel coat in this city without being an object of ridicule.