According to this year’s World Economic Forum report, the fashion industry contributes five percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Over decades, the country’s major industry players have begun to use sustainable materials to go greener. However, the primary disadvantages were the high costs of these fabrics and difficulties scaling up production. In 2009, Rent The Runway was born – a concept that was the perfect answer for fashionistas who wanted to refresh their wardrobe each day but still wanted to respect the environment. Rental platforms began popping up worldwide as soon as renting designer looks became the craze. Many brands also started renting their products. In the beginning, some industry experts believed that they were helping the environment; less waste was generated since brands produced fewer items. However, recent research indicates that renting clothes harms the environment. 

The most significant climate impact was caused by renting clothes. Delivery and packaging costs were found to be the hidden environmental costs. Moving clothes back and forth between warehouses and renters is a significant part of renting clothes. Also, dry cleaning is environmentally harmful. Here are some reasons why renting clothes causes more environmental damage than you think. 

Circular economies are a mirage

Researchers note that “circular economy” has been a buzzword in the fashion industry over the past few years due to organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which have promoted it. However, they often misuse it to assure themselves that they are sustainable without truly understanding the concept. Circular systems are the opposite of linear ones, where we buy clothes, wear them for a while, and then throw them away. It refers to prolonging clothing circulation in the economy by wearing them for longer and then passing them along to another consumer. Fashion brands would create new garments without using new resources at the end of an item’s life since the old clothes are recycled. The circular economy is seen as a way for the fashion industry to become more sustainable by many experts and activists. In reality, many brands have incorporated one small aspect of the circular system, for instance, recycling materials or renting clothes to keep them on the market longer-and than market their entire business as eco-friendly and sustainable. This study set out to evaluate these claims. According to research, there were five ways to own and dispose of a pair of jeans: wear them and throw them away, wear them for longer than average before chucking them out, sell them, recycle them, and rent them. Each scenario was analyzed for global warming potential, or how much greenhouse gas is emitted during the lifetime of a pair of jeans. Every aspect was considered, including washing, transportation, manufacturing, and disposal. The results were precise. Due to all the vehicles involved with renting, it generated the most emissions, and, from a climate perspective, it’s better just to buy jeans, wear them, and discard them. It’s also worth looking vehicles at how you handle donated clothing, even though the report didn’t examine this specifically. Many of the garments that Americans donate end up in landfills in Africa, according to a recent book by Maxine Bédat. 

Recycling and renting problems

The key takeaway is that recycling should only be considered the last resort for garments that have been worn hundreds of times and are no longer fit for use. Clothing should not be regarded as guilt-free because you wear them a couple of times and then discard them. Recycling is a vital component of sustainability. Yet, it cannot replace a reduction in consumption. Recycling benefits depend on the kind of materials you recycle. During the study, cotton jeans were used mainly as a model for the calculations. Because cotton grows so slowly, recycling cotton may have a more significant effect on the environment than harvesting cotton. In contrast, synthetic fibers, such as nylon and polyester, rely on oil to be made and are a significant source of greenhouse gases. Therefore, recycling these fabrics instead of making them from scratch would make sense. Secondly, renting clothing isn’t sustainable as it exists today, mainly due to the transportation necessary to transport them back and forth between homes and warehouses. The report states that if rental companies drastically changed their logistics to be more climate-friendly, for example, only using zero-emission or low-emission modes of transport, renting would become on par with reselling from a climate perspective. Unfortunately, the vast majority of rental companies do not do this nowadays. 

Thus, consumers and brands need to move away from fast fashion to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

The JD Institute of fashion technology offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma courses in fashion designing. With a specific focus on design sensibilities, these courses provide an understanding of the fashion world that allows students to explore broader, more detailed opportunities such as research and interdisciplinary exploration projects. You can stay relevant in the modern world by gaining skills in problem-solving, strategic planning, decision making, leadership, organizational goals, and global market studies through the fashion management diploma program. Program participants will be allowed to explore the world of entrepreneurship in fashion design, communication, and other related fields within the fashion industry. You will learn about fashion communication through this 2-year postgraduate diploma program. This design communication program will allow candidates to obtain the most out of their experience and use it to advance their careers. Candidates must master creative writing and content targeted at fashion, forecasting trends, and creating content. It allows them to become influential fashion figures in styles, trends, etc.