Is a Rented Wardrobe Right for You?

The hardest part of being a sustainable fashion girl might be learning how to balance a love of clothing, the journey of discovering your personal style, and participating in trends with slower consumption habits. Besides clothing swaps and the occasional upcycle project, there’s another method of circularity on the rise in the fashion community: clothing rental! 

Clothing rental offers a unique opportunity to redefine the idea of "newness" in our wardrobes. By renting pieces, we can enjoy the excitement of a piece we’ve never worn before without the risk of contributing to garment waste that comes with constant purchasing. If you’ve been wondering whether renting new clothing is the right choice for you and your style, here’s our breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of a rented wardrobe to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Pros

1. Lower Risk of Creating Textile Waste: Renting clothing reduces textile waste since pieces you don't love can be returned and enjoyed by someone else. The model of fast fashion thrives on constant consumption and disposal, and so renting can help to decrease the demand for poor quality, single-use clothing.

2. Bang for Your Buck: We can't all afford to invest in the high-end brands we might fantasize about wearing, but renting can give us access to pieces that might otherwise be out of our budget. When it comes to formal wear, the high cost versus low usage for special occasions makes renting a cost-effective alternative!

3. Variety & Experimentation: If you're still figuring out the kind of pieces you want to permanently keep, renting offers the opportunity to try different styles without a long-term commitment. You can participate in trends without feeling guilty about not sticking to them forever. Also, if your weight fluctuates, it can take some stress away from needing to adjust your wardrobe each time your size changes.

4. Saves Space: The pieces we rarely wear often sit in our wardrobe, taking up valuable space. Maintaining a minimal wardrobe and renting seasonal or unique pieces can be helpful if you’re dealing with limited square footage in your home.

5. Sense of Community: did you ever think you’d find community in borrowing someone’s clothes? So many rental apps function as social platforms where your shared interest is fashion and minimizing waste and/or consumption; check out a few of them here! 

Cons

1. No Quality Control: Since rental pieces are used often and by different people, we can’t really control how well it is kept or the quality we receive it in. Before renting, check to see if a piece has a quality rating and review the platform's cleaning policies. Cleaning policies can also be helpful in case you accidentally stain or damage a rented garment (life happens!). 

2. Possible Sizing Issues: Like with any online clothing purchase (thanks to the straight size system) there’s always the possibility that a garment won’t fit you exactly right, and you won’t have the option to tailor or alter a rented garment. However, some platforms will offer an exchange or refund in such cases.

3. Recurring Costs: Unlike the one-time cost of purchasing an item, renting can increase ongoing expenses if you opt for a membership or rent frequently. 

4. Shipping Emissions & Waste: Consider the carbon footprint associated with frequent shipping and returns, including packaging waste; check if the rental service offers reusable options!

Ultimately, whether clothing rental is suitable for your wardrobe depends on your current budget and consumption habits. Take some time to weigh the pros and cons, and remember that mindful consumption is the key to being a sustainable baddie. 

Have you experimented with clothing rental services? How did it work out for you?