Manchester-based global brand communications agency, Manifest, has launched a new international indie agency network, The Etc. Collective, alongside fellow founding members Loud, Openers and Mellaka Helsinki, from Spain, Germany and Finland, respectively.
Described as ‘the new global model for an independent age’, Manifest’s inclusion adds the UK, USA, Sweden and Australia to its launch territories, with plans to recruit 20 independent agency members before Spring 2026, making it “the biggest network of its kind.”
Etc. will not just offer commercial collaboration, but shared services, cultural intelligence and proprietary innovation, with the group able to provide the full gamut of integrated marketing services to shared clients across the globe.
Alex Myers, founder and global CEO at Manifest said: “Etc. is a collective of pioneering indy agencies that aren’t just reacting to the changing shape of our industry, but driving it. Far from the usual ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’ arrangement, or a dusty old network agency, Etc. is designed to provide a new model for brands seeking multi-territory, multi-disciplinary support. The collective shares knowledge, training, tools and innovations, as well as connected working processes and systems that make appointing the group as simple as appointing a single agency.”
The founding members of Etc. boast a collective client portfolio that includes some of the world’s most innovative and fast-growing brands, such as Red Bull, Polestar, Gap, Spotify, Vichy, IBM, Aperol, Vinted, TIkTok and Candy Crush. The group will host its first bi-annual conference in May 2026, where members will showcase work and share knowledge and innovation, reflecting the collective’s desire to drive the industry forward.
“It’s increasingly clear that the old order of traditional networks isn’t fit for the future,” says Myers. “But indie agencies are thriving. Across the world, the appetite for more agile and creative indie agencies has already overtaken the traditional ‘surname and surname’ monoliths. Now, Etc. adds the ability to deliver large-scale global campaigns to the Indie armoury and offers clients the same confidence of consistency and cohesion. This is the new global model for an independent age.”
Etc. will be managed independently through a member subscription model, with a focus on equal representation for all members. Priority markets for member agencies include France, Italy and Portugal in Europe, alongside China, Brazil, South Africa and Japan.
Stuart Tyson, director at Manifest and membership coordinator for Etc.added: “We already have every timezone covered with Etc. — but we want to have a foothold in every major market not just from the point of view of scale, but culture. The idea is to share cultural knowledge and emerging trends to ensure the group becomes a virtuous cycle of inspiration and learning, which is why we’re recruiting only the most innovative and creative indy agencies.”
