If you were to look in your closet right now, how many pieces have you worn less than five times? Are there some shirts, pants or dresses you’ve only worn once? According to a Slickdeals survey, 74% of Americans have felt buyer’s remorse after buying something online. With tricky return policies and sometimes just pure laziness, most regretted clothing purchases hang stagnant on a hanger before it’s time to admit that it’ll never be worn again. However, renting clothing may be the solution to prevent any more wasted money and materials.
Rental clothing companies offer customers the opportunity to rent clothing for a limited window and a fraction of the price. Rent the Runway is one business offering these services for designer items. A LoveShackFancy dress worth nearly $900 can be rented for $113. For rehearsal dinners and engagement parties, bridal dresses are offered for as low as $30. Renting clothing is an efficient way to style yourself for fancier occasions. Let’s be honest: if you have to rack your brain to think of the next time you could wear that potential concert fit, was it the best purchase?
In the digital era, sometimes the outfit has to look good for the gram. Getting perfect vacation pictures is all we need some outfits for. Getting that one photo on your birthday may be enough to validate an expensive purchase, but renting clothes will still give you that satisfaction without spending what you could have at dinner. It’s also a much more sustainable way of shopping.
Thrifting has become extremely popular in recent years. For many, it’s the perfect way to find unique clothing while shopping sustainably. However, with the rise in demand for second-hand clothing, many thrift stores are forced to raise their prices. In addition to the inflation, thrifting isn’t sustainable under practices of overconsumption. Apps like Depop and ThredUp make it easy for consumers to become sellers. While these sellers were initially a great way to make thrifting mobile, they also became a way to justify inflation and sellers purchasing more fast fashion, knowing they could sell their old clothes online.
vThe modern consumer’s desire to buy has become insatiable. Trend cycles are moving at a faster rate than ever before. Constant streams of media on several different apps push sponsored content every few scrolls. Users are being conditioned to spend their money nearly every day. For many, a consistent stream of packages at the doorstep is the new norm. Renting clothing is a way to satisfy one’s need to consume at a fraction of the price without enabling fast fashion cycles.
Two Harvard MBA Students, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, founded Rent the Runway in 2009. The company has amassed a net worth of nearly $40 million. Since then, the fashion rental industry has blossomed. Nuuly offers subscription boxes for less than $100 every month. Subscribers can access the items they choose for the next month before sending them back to pick a new selection.
Pickle rental services are more straightforward, simply offering customers the traditional methods of renting a single item. The company sources clothing from a network of lenders who are in charge of accepting or declining the offers that come their way. Pickle also features college students as ambassadors, broadening their network of users.
Regardless of what service best accommodates your individual needs, a fashion rental service is out there for you. It’s a win-win situation for you, the company, and the environment!
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
