John Lewis starts renting out dresses with new Hurr service

In a partnership with rental specialist Hurr, department store John Lewis has launched its first womenswear rental platform. It is available at johnlewis.com/fashionrental and features a selection of exclusive John Lewis labels as well as over 20 new contemporary brands.

As stated by the company, the goal is to “encourage a more sustainable way of shopping that doesn’t cost the Earth.”

A report recently revealed that Britain buys more clothes per person than any other country in Europe, and the fashion industry as a whole is responsible for 8%-10% of annual global carbon emissions.

“As a retailer, we need to provide our consumers with a more sustainable solution. This is why John Lewis Fashion Rental was created,” according to the company.

Rental prices begin at £20 for a “carefully curated” mix of the firm’s own brands, as well as brands like Whistles and Somerset by Alice Temperley, and exclusive collaborations like the upcoming Erica Davies + John Lewis collection.

Customers can rent a garment for four, eight, ten, or twenty days, with next-day delivery available if needed. Once the items are chosen, they will be shipped directly to the address provided, along with a pre-paid return label. Hurr will dry clean the items (using Oxwash responsible laundry services) and have them ready to rent again.