With Brits disposing an estimated £140 million worth of clothing every year, it’s no surprise that clothing rental services are paving the way for a more sustainable approach to fashion and fashion waste.
According to GlobalData, the UK rental market value is expected to reach £2.3 billion by 2029, a stark increase compared to the estimated £400 million in 2019.
As a worthwhile alternative to investing in fast fashion, the premise behind wardrobe rentals offers subscription-based and pay-per-hire services operated by companies owning stock and leasing pieces at a discounted rate for a limited period of time.
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Currently, no major British fast fashion retailer has tapped into rental services, but consumers have access to many fashion rental services in the UK.
Over the last couple of years, fashion rental services in the UK have risen in popularity.
Here are seven major platforms that offer fashion rental services to UK consumers:
Rotaro
A cult label rental and resale service, which holds stock centrally, Rotaro focuses on three areas: Sustainability, Curation and Seamlessness.
The company said it aims to reduce the environmental impact of renting, and offers biodegradable and recycled packaging.
Customers can rent garments that are to be returned in either four or 12 days with prices from £14 to £70. Rotaro also offers multiple sizes from 6-16.
Hirestreet
Hirestreet calls itself the “UK’s leading fashion rental platform”.
The service offers sizes UK 4-20 and said it is “committed to making style and sustainability accessible for all women”.
Customers can choose a rental period of four to 16 days are advised to book their delivery to arrive two days before an event. They are also able to add insurance to any of their items before proceeding to checkout, which will cover against any accidental damages.
Hurr
Hurr offers clothing and accessories from over 65 designer and retail partners. The two-sided marketplace allows lenders to make money from their under-utilised wardrobes on one side, and on the other, renters can access designer pieces for around 20 per cent of their original retail price.
Founder Victoria Prew describes Hurr as “disrupting the £21 billion UK fashion industry” as clothing rental services continue to pave the way for a more sustainable approach to fashion.
The company launched its first ever physical pop-up in luxury department store Selfridges in London in February last year, featuring a collection of 200 curated pieces available for customers to rent for between four and eight days at a time.
Earlier this year, Selfridges launched Hurr online. Items are available to rent for four, eight, 10 and 20-day periods and prices start at £20 for a four-day rental.
By Rotation
By Rotation said it was the first UK fashion rental service to have an app.
Since launching in October 2019, the platform has grown to have over 70,000 ‘rotators’ from all over the UK.
By Rotation aims create a “conscious and self-sustaining community”.
My Wardrobe HQ
My Wardrobe HQ is a rental service that combines stock from brands as well as people’s personal collection that the company intakes, cleans, stores and delivers.
It also has the option of purchase on most items, unlike other rental services currently in the UK.
The platform gives customers the option to borrow pieces for four days to a fortnight, or to buy preloved and past-season deadstock items at a fraction of the RRP.
My Wardrobe HQ said it wants “make luxury clothing rental the norm”. It currently has partnerships with Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
Onloan
Onloan aims to “bring a cost-effective service” with prices ranging from £69-£99 a month – working out at £1 a day.
The platform loans clothes to women as part of a monthly subscription. Customers can try it out for a month and pause accounts or cancel at any time.
Customers will start by taking a style survey and then Onloan sends them an edit of clothes in reusable packaging, which has been put together by stylists.
Girl Meets Dress
Since launching in 2009, Girl Meets Dress allows customers to both rent and buy products.
Co-founder Anna Bance aims to offer women the ability to rent high-end designer fashion for a fraction of the retail price.
Girl Meets Dress also offers services including a London Showroom, maternity rental and bridesmaid loans.
The company buys and owns the stock, listing it for a two or seven night hire, from £19, 10 to 30 per cent of the retail price of the item. Its £99 monthly fee also gives members unlimited free dresses.
Girl Meets Dress customers can rent over 4000 dresses from over 200 designers from more than 30 countries.
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