By Eliza Bowditch
Finding something nice to wear for an event can be a tedious task, endlessly scrolling trying to find something different and unique but affordable. I found myself always buying new outfits for events and only wearing them once because every time another event came about, I wanted to wear something different. This is where renting has revolutionised my life and others.
Renting allows you to get a show-stopping designer outfit without the jaw-dropping prices. Through renting you have access to a variety of designers, brands and products and can guarantee a unique outfit which means you don’t have to worry about filling up your wardrobe with ‘wear once items’. Rental doesn’t stop at occasion outfits, you can rent anything from bags, shoes, bridal wear, and everyday items. It is an affordable way to be sustainable and still have a variety of styles and options. Despite the great benefits renting has for your wardrobe and wallet it also creates a more circular sustainable fashion process. Materialism and the need for more and new and better is a damaging trait of society and it needs to change.
Mass consumption and the growth of social media and trends have resulted in enormous pressure to produce new things fast. Styles are changing rapidly meaning there is constant production and lots of waste, which is damaging our planet. Consumers have the ability to initiate a change and can have a huge impact. Renting is one of these consumer behaviour changes which can help move the fashion industry into a more positive direction. Renting keeps existing garments and textiles in circulation and extends the product life cycle of materials and items. This reduces waste, limiting the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills.
Renting also lessens the number of items you purchase from fast-fashion brands, reducing demand, production and pollution. Clean Cut TV spoke with Jade McSorley, the co-founder of the rental platform LOANHOOD. LOANHOOD is different from other rental platforms because independent brands and designers can rent out their own collections on the app too. This is not only great because of the rental aspect, but also because it allows people to explore and discover new brands, accessing independent designers all in one place. It's an easy money maker if you are a renter and a good way to market your designs if you are an independent brand looking to grow your business.
In Clean Cut TV's feature with LOANHOOD Jade shares more about her time as a model and how she was exposed to the horrifying reality of the fashion industry and the mass amount of waste it involves. Losing respect for the fashion industry, Jade developed the app with her co-founders, Jen Charon and Lucy Hall, to encourage this behaviourial change and provide access to slow-fashion brands and designers. As the demand for more sustainable options grows and people’s attitudes and behaviours become more pro-environmental, the rental industry and the options available to rent will grow massively over the next few years. The rental apparel industry is extremely effective and beneficial, so much so that even fast fashion brands like H&M want to get involved.
Rental is one of the really positive changes which is starting to develop in the fashion
industry and supporting these sorts of changes is so important. Growing awareness around sustainable fashion options and supporting ethical, independent brands and designers is essential to continue this positive journey. So, next time you want a new outfit and accessories for an event, or a social occasion, or just want to look amazing and try something different, look to rent because I guarantee you will find something nicer, cheaper, and more unique than you would find on a fast fashion brand's website.
Discover more on Clean Cut TV to learn about circular, sustainable and ethical fashion and find super cool new brands and designers, hear their stories and thoughts on the fashion industry and tips on how you can be part of the change and have an impact.
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