Tulerie has recently come across a few articles regarding the rental economy and how it compares environmentally with buying new. As a rental platform that values sustainability and the environmental effects the fashion industry causes, we felt it was important to express our viewpoints on the controversial outlook clothing rental can have.

First and foremost, we can confidently say that the clothing rental industry is not perfect. Factors such as shipping, packaging, transportation, and dry cleaning are some issues that need further research. At Tulerie, we inform our community to consider them when lending and borrowing.

A quote from the New York Times article, “Is Renting My Clothes Really the Most Sustainable Shopping Option?”, I find essential to understand the impact of our consumer habits is, “There are so many parts to every supply chain, and often so many participants involved, that every choice is really a choice about priorities.”

Tulerie has never claimed to be the solution to a more sustainable environment, but we are a part of the piece to a more conscious closet. “Every action and purchase is going to have an impact,” and it’s up to the consumer to choose the actions that will be more conscious of our environment and people.

There are multiple scenarios where rental is the way to go. Maybe you are someone who loves following fashion trends, gets tired of their wardrobe every season, or you attend many events throughout the year but never rewear those outfits more than once.

If that sounds like your relationship with fashion, rental is the step to take for conscious consumer behavior. Our blog on Capsule Wardrobes talked about how another way to practice mindful consumer habits is to build your wardrobe with high-quality staple pieces that will last you a lifetime.

Those devoted to sustainability often pair the two practices together. The New York Times called it your “responsible wardrobe toolbox,” meaning when an out-of-the-ordinary fashion situation occurs, you should participate in peer-leading or rental subscriptions instead of buying new.

As a peer-to-peer closet sharing app, we can’t forget about the act of lending your clothes. This is a healthy way to get valuable use out of your clothing and make some money for a future closet investment.
“‘Anything can qualify as fast fashion if you go through it fast enough, including rentals and secondhand clothing,’” said Alden Wicker, the author of “To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making You Sick.”

Even though being a clothing renter is an excellent start, it isn’t enough to just stop there. As a consumer, think thoroughly about your rentals and utilize your limited time with your borrow wisely.

Fashion rental is a work in progress, but we are thrilled to see our community grow with more like-minded people daily. If you take one part of this article away with you today, it should be to know your priorities and recognize your impact on sustainability as a fashion consumer.

In honor of a new month, I want to highlight Oxfam’s campaign, Second Hand September. This campaign has encouraged consumers since 2019 to only buy secondhand during September. But it’s not only about where and how we shop, but also how we care for our clothes and what we ultimately do with them when we are finished.

Shopping resale is another excellent way to contribute to this campaign; some of Tulerie’s favorites are TheRealReal and Vestiaire Collective. Use this fresh new month to shop secondhand, repeat rental outfits, repurpose, learn about product lifecycles, and, most importantly, openly express your love and dedication for a more sustainable fashion environment one step at a time.

-As always, elevate your wardrobe with respected fashion and embrace the shift in style