// Marks and Spencer makes a range of women’s clothing available for hire ahead of the Christmas party season
// The initiative comes amid pressure from MPs for retailers & manufacturers to end the era of throwaway fashion
Marks and Spencer has made a range of womenswear available to rent ahead of the Christmas party season, as more retailers address the growing sustainability concerns around fast fashion.
The retailer says the trial will enable it to better understand shoppers’ changing habits in a world where customers are increasingly thinking about the sustainability of their purchases.
M&S said it was leasing dozens of products, including dresses from its X Ghost collaboration, under a trial with Hirestreet.
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M&S has previously invested in the platform which is operated by the Zoa Group through its Founders Factory Joint Venture programme.
It said the collection items, which have selling prices of between £69 and £299, would be available to rent on Hirestreet from £13 for four days.
The initiative comes amid pressure from MPs for retailers and manufacturers to end the era of throwaway fashion.
M&S chief operating officer Katie Bickerstaffe said: “Clothing rental is a growing market and working with Hirestreet through our Founders Factory joint venture gives us a huge opportunity to learn from the leading start-up in this space, operate in an agile way and better understand what our customers want from rental services.
“As we grow M&S clothing, we want to be more relevant more often and we know customers are increasingly interested in the circular fashion economy.
“Our partnership with Hirestreet means we are putting M&S clothing in front of new customers and our first rental edit doesn’t just showcase the style we have on offer, it also highlights the value and quality of clothing that is made to last.”
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