Harrods dives into fashion rental sector in My Wardrobe HQ link-up

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 8, 2021

Harrods is the latest major name to enter the rental space and, like others, the company is teaming up with a fashion rental specialist in order to do it. The company is linking with My Wardrobe HQ (MWHQ) to launch the service with a pop-up inside the world-famous department store and a curated Harrods space on MWHQ’s website.

The pop-up opens Thursday and the Harrods Rental Edit is already live on the website. It includes items from labels such as Jenny Packham, Halpern, Alexandre Vauthier, Monique Lhuillier, Victoria Beckham, Ganni, The Attico, Needle And Thread and more.

The focus in on evening and occasionwear and a Buy option is also available. Daily rental prices are typically between 5% and 10% of the retail price.

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MWHQ, which famously supplied the dress in which Carrie Symonds married Boris Johnson, has a high profile in the rental sector not only because of its celebrity clients but because the respected Jane Shepherdson is its chair. Shepherdson oversaw Topshop during the period in which it was a must-shop destination for anyone visiting London.

The MWHQ link-up now means that London’s two biggest destination department stores are offering rental. Selfridges earlier this year entered the segment via Hurr Collective, the UK-based peer-to-peer wardrobe rental platform, when Hurr opened Selfridges’ first ever rental pop-up.

The rise of rental is part of a wider trend that mixes a sustainability focus with a growing budget consciousness in luxury. The trend has also driven the growth of the luxury resale segment and a number of repair and restore services that are also being offered both by high-end brands and retailers.