Rent The Runway is undergoing a major revamp this year and into 2015. The five-year-old go-to destination for rentable designer garb is looking for their share of the fast fashion market. The website has predominately been known for its evening wear pieces with customers renting gowns for one-time special occasions. Now members can pick from over 1,000 handbags, sunglasses, scarves, outerwear, hats and jewelry for a monthly fee of $75. Accessories fiends, take note: An unlimited number of pieces can be rented for that fee.
So how does it work? The subscription fee allows members to three items at a time and keep them for as long as they wish. The website has already been renting accessories as part of their offering so the traditional four- to eight-day rental period for individual pieces will remain on offer. The idea behind the new accessories platform was to compete with fast fashion retailers like Zara and H&M, where most customers go for trend-based pieces they feel are disposable rather than investments. “At Rent the Runway, we began disrupting the closet almost 5 years ago with special occasion attire, and now we are disrupting the section of the closet you use most – your every day wear,” said co-founder and CEO Jennifer Hyman in a statement. “With our new service Unlimited, currently in beta, our customers can take advantage of an unlimited rotation of designer statement pieces to wear every single day.” Over 100 brands and designers like Eddie Borgo, Pamela Love, Lizzie Fortunato, Oscar de la Renta, and Balenciaga will be available.
But that’s not all. The website is also undergoing changes; a new logo and freshly luxe packaging will also be a part of the redesign. The new website includes updated photography and editorial content and Hyman has tapped stylist and former Opening Ceremony buyer Kate Foley as a creative consultant to style shoots and develop trend stories for the site. Also of note: finally, you’ll soon be able to buy the pieces you love through their Try to Buy service once the company relaunches in February. Start searching for your favorite pieces now!
