Best luxury fashion rental sites in the UK

Times

25-04-2025

Rental fashion is on the rise, with the online rental market valued at an impressive $1.52 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $3.12 billion by 2032. While the act of loaning luxury items is nothing new — those in the know have been directly borrowing from designer showrooms and boutiques for years — the best fashion rental sites have now made it easier than ever.
The summer season calls for certain outfits — whether that's formal daywear for Ascot or black tie for a wedding — that are unlikely to fit into your everyday, capsule wardrobe, which only makes the non-committal nature of designer rental sites that much more appealing. You can trial looks and trends safe in the knowledge you will return them once the event is over. There is sheer relaxation in being able to simply click rent on your favourite pieces without worrying about all the other places you could possibly wear them in the future. By renting, you will get your new-season fix (whether your kryptonite be designer bags, shoes or off-the-runway looks) while feeling pretty smug that you aren't contributing to the 92 million tons of textile waste that ends up in landfill each year.
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Technology has undoubtedly changed the game when it comes to online rental platforms. Previously, one had to trawl vintage shops and friends and families' wardrobes for an amazing (more environmentally-friendly) second-hand find. Now, thanks to the advancement of rental communities and apps like Hurr (which manages its own collection of designer clothing as well as allowing vetted individuals to rent out their own wardrobes) you can scroll the most coveted luxury items and have them delivered to you in as little as 20 minutes through Deliveroo. With this level of efficiency it's hardly surprising that this business earned £100 million through fashion rentals last year, and the platform's top lender took home £100,000 through loaning her own wardrobe.Intrigued? Keep scrolling to find out more about the best fashion rental sites.
Since launching in 2018, Hurr has remained one of the most successful fashion rental platforms, offering high-end fashion through its app, website, and a permanent space in Selfridges' London store. Hurr features a mix of peer-to-peer rentals (where vetted individuals are able to loan out and monetise their own wardrobes) alongside stock that is centrally managed and available directly from their exclusive partnerships with luxury brands like Burberry. Last year, following demand to extend their rental periods (currently blocks of four, eight, ten or twenty days), the brand launched Hurr Flex, a subscription service which provides users with unlimited rental access and allows you to build an outfit with numerous items over a 30 day period using a credit system. Think of it like ClassPass but for your wardrobe.
By Rotation is basically one big shared wardrobe — one with over 150,000 items in it, including coveted Birkin and Kelly Hermès bags. The platform is a peer-to-peer fashion rental app that lets users browse vetted lenders' wardrobes using filtered searches to find exactly what they need. It's super easy for those simply looking to rent as lenders are responsible for cleaning (although you may be charged extra for delicate pieces). While the minimum rental period is usually three days, the length of the loan is ultimately up to the lender so can be however long you please — depending on your persuasion techniques. By Rotation recently opened the UK's largest fashion rental pop-up in Mayfair (complete with its own champagne bar) and have expanded internationally with services in the US, and soon the UAE.
Since launching 2019, My Wardrobe HQ has been one of the leaders of the try before you buy model. While the site offers rentals of designer items from over 500 different brands, including Stella McCartney, Gucci and Chanel, it also gives users the option to buy the items at a resale price. There's also a subscription service available for those who like to switch up their wardrobes sustainably: the silver membership, at £59 per month, allows you to rent 2 items monthly, whereas Gold, at £99, gives you the chance to loan four different designer pieces each month.
Located in east London's Broadway Market, the rental boutique Rites lets you browse rails of designer pieces in person — from luxury ski wear to coveted clutch bags — with an even wider selection available online. Meg O'Hara, the founder of Rites, says: 'We keep the edit tight on purpose, to remove the noise and make the choice feel easy. Rental isn't a compromise: it's a considered decision for a standout moment, without the overwhelm.' Rites purposefully takes the stress out of renting with built-in cleaning fees, a fit policy which allows you to arrange credit or an exchange, as well as free returns and optional damage protection. 'This season, rental feels less like a back-up plan and more like an intentional part of how people dress for major occasions,' O'Hara says.
Part of the department stores initiative to explore new ways to shop more sustainably, Selfridges launched an online rental platform alongside its resale site in 2021. Renters can loan items for either four, eight, 16 or 30 days and new styles are added to the site regularly. All deliveries, returns and dry-cleaning services are complimentary, too.
Known as a members club for luxury handbags, Cocoon differs from other fashion rental services with its flexible membership plans rather than one-off rental fees. Specialising in designer handbags, membership starts from £59 which allows you to borrow one bag a month from Cocoon's standard collection, which features the likes of Prada, Chloe and Fendi. However, at the top of the tiered membership system sits the platinum membership which gives you access to exclusive, limited-edition styles and the option to borrow up to two bags at once from any of the curated collections for £199 a month. This luxurious membership includes iconic Lady Dior bags as well as new styles from Bottega Veneta that are worth over £4,000.
Founded in 2020 by sisters Isabella, Bea and Claudia — who were inspired by the familiar thrill of borrowing something from your big sister's wardrobe — Loan the Look is a fashion rental service with a London-based studio in the heart of Portobello Road. 'It feels like you're in on a secret coming to the Loan the Look dressing box,' the brand says. 'You have to come through another store and downstairs to the basement to find us.' In-store appointments offer exclusive access to the boutique for an hour, with one-to-one styling support. Plus, there's a helpful live chat function on their website for online rentals. All the pieces from brands such as Alexander McQueen, Emilia Wickstead and Galvan London are centrally managed to ensure the highest standards, and delivery within two hours is available for London clients any day of the week.
You'll find statement feathered gowns by Taller Marmo and ready-to-wear Nensi Dojaka on the luxury fashion rental site Front Row. With the choice to rent looks for three or five days, the team includes a group of experienced stylists who can assist with everything from personal styling to luxury sourcing and even wardrobe decluttering. 'We focus on delivering fashion-forward pieces from both heritage brands and rising stars,' the brand says, 'Designers like David Koma and Magda Butrym have been among our most-rented names this year, alongside perennial favourites like Gucci and Missoni.' Front Row also works with a luxury aftercare service The Restory to carefully clean and repair vintage handbags and shoes to prolong their lifespan. To ensure rental items fit, you can book a private appointment at the brand's central London suite or contact Front Row within four hours of receiving the garment for a refund or size exchange. Due to increased demand, Front Row has plans to launch in Dubai later this year, bringing its edit to existing (and hopefully new) clients that frequently travel there.
Is fashion rental sustainable?Fashion rental can be a more sustainable alternative to buying new clothes. It reduces the need for the production of new garments and extends the lifespan of clothes already made by increasing the circulation of one particular piece, meaning less textile waste has to unnecessarily be abandoned in landfill.
How long can I rent an item for?While rental periods can vary, most services offer a minimum of four days. However, Hurr launched its new 30-day rental period, Hurr Flex, last year, and has subsequently seen a 230 per cent increase in longer-term rentals.What if the item doesn't fit?Some services offer a 'fit guarantee' or allow a return if the item doesn't fit. Other rental sites, such as Rites, By Rotation and Hurr, have permanent and pop-up spaces in London that allow you to try items to ensure a good fit prior to renting.What happens if I damage or lose the rental?Most services have policies in place to address damage or loss, which may include additional charges. Many also partner with dry-cleaning and repair services to care for items between rentals, helping to extend the lifespan of garments and ensure they're fresh for the next borrower.